Primate fossils were discovered in Texas

More than 40 million years ago, primates showed a preference for Texas over a cool northern climate, according to fossil evidence discovered by Chris Kirk, anthropologist at the University of Texas, Austin.

Kirk and Blythe Williams from Duke University discovered Diablomomys dalquesti, a primate from 44-43 million years before active tropical forests and volcanoes covered Western Texas.

In the early Eocene period, primates often appeared in tropical forests covering most of North America. Over time, cooler weather created a sudden decline in the number and diversity of North American primates. At the end of the Eoxen era, primates and most tropical animals almost disappeared from North America.

Kirk's discovery of the mid-century Eocene (Uintan) primate at Devil's Graveyard Formation, Southwest Texas revealed new information on how North American primates evolved during the reorganization of these animal populations.

Kirk and Blythe Williams from Duke University discovered Diablomomys dalquesti, a primate from 44-43 million years before active tropical forests and volcanoes covered West Texas (Photo: University of Texas, Austin)

Kirk said: 'After several years of collecting new fossils, reviewing the primate community in Texas and comparing it with other locations in North America, we found a much more diverse group of primates what they I look forward. It seems that primates are attached to Texas much longer than other parts of the continent because of the warm climate for a long time. While the number and diversity of primates in other places such as Utah and Wyong in the middle of Eoxen, West Texas still provide tropical and humid shelters for primates and tree animals other'.

Anthropology researchers named the new primate Diablomomys dalquesti. They combine 'Diablo', demonstrating Devil's Graveyard Formation (sand and mud rocks near Big Bend National Park), with Omomys, a related fossil. The dalquesti honors Walter and Rose Dalquest, who donated the island the fossil was found (Midwestern State University's Dalquest Research Area). Waler was a Texas paleontologist and a biology professor at MidWessern State University in Wichita Falls until his death in 2000.