Monkey teeth found in Panama Canal changes theories on simian migration
Q. _______ monkeys made it to North American 18 million years earlier than previously thought, according to a recent discovery in Panama Canal.- Published on 22 Apr 16a. New World
b. Old World
c. Middle World
d. None of the above
ANSWER: New World
Seven little monkey teeth 21 million years old found during work on the Panama Canal are ripping up scientific theories on simian migration.
- The fossils, found by US and Latin American researchers suggest that so-called New World monkeys -- ones that made it across the Atlantic from Africa to South America -- made it to North America 18 million years earlier than previously thought.
- They are the first evidence of a monkey on the North American continent before the isthmus of Panama connected it to South America 3.5 million years ago.
- The team identified the teeth as belonging to a previously unknown species of monkey dubbed Panamacebus transitus, believed to be related to capuchin and squirrel monkeys found today in South and Central America.
