11 May , 14:55
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At the dawn of a new era, when Earth was just recovering from the asteroid impact that ended the age of dinosaurs, a tiny creature emerged on the evolutionary stage, without which we would not exist. This is Purgatorius - the first mammal known to science that scientists classify as a primate.
As reported by University of Manchester PhD student Will Newton in his publication for BBC Wildlife, it was Purgatorius that became the evolutionary ancestor of Homo sapiens. Surprisingly, this ancient progenitor did not resemble a monkey at all - it looked more like a squirrel: a miniature creature only 15 centimeters long with a fluffy tail, elongated body, and pointed nose. The mass of this tiny animal did not exceed 35 grams.
Purgatorius inhabited our planet 66-63 million years ago, almost immediately after the catastrophic extinction of dinosaurs. The territory of modern eastern Montana, where researchers first discovered fossil remains of these creatures in 1965, was covered with lush subtropical forests at that time.
The main distinguishing feature of Purgatorius was the unique structure of their teeth. Their dental system demonstrated characteristic features typical of primates, which set these animals apart from other mammals of that period.
According to researchers, Purgatorius disappeared from the face of the Earth due to global climate changes and competition with more adapted species. Nevertheless, it was these tiny creatures that began the long evolutionary journey that, millions of years later, led to the emergence of humans.
