Ancestors of monkeys, apes, and humans is likely to come from Asia, not Africa as long as it is believed by some scientists. The new theory is supported by a new fossil found in South East Asia.
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| The image shows two fossilized upper molars. The molar of Afrasia from Myanmar is to the right. The molar of Afrotarsius from Libya is to the left. The map shows the ancient geography of this part of the globe, approximately 38 million years ago. The 3D model is an artist’s reconstruction of Afrotarsius. (Picture from: http://thesciencebulletin.wordpress.com/) |
The origin of anthropoids, the simian or the "higher primates," which consists of monkeys, apes, and humans for this is still a debate among scientists. Although the fossils unearthed in Egypt shows that Africa is the land of anthropoids, other bones were found in the last 15 years reveals the possibility that Asia is the birthplace of them.
This theory states shift the previous theory that human ancestors from Africa. The new theory is revealed by a team of paleontology experts, after they discovered the fossil tooth Afrasia djijidae in Myanmar.
Fossil forms is similar to the fossil anthropoid teeth Afrotarsius libycus, which is found in Libya, making it the missing evolutionary link chain between Africa and Asia. Shape of the teeth of these two species indicates that they are insect eaters.
Similarities between Afrasia and gave birth to the idea that Afrotarsius anthropoids migrated from Asia and makes colonization in Africa.
"Afrasia not only help close the case on the first evolution of anthropoids in Asia, but also tells us that the first human ancestors just walked into Africa," said Chris Beard, a paleontologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the United States.
But do not imagine this as a form of human ancestral hominids in general. Because it is not the case. Based on the size of the fossil teeth were found, two species of human ancestor estimated size 3.5 ounces, roughly shaped like modern tarsiers.
The research team found four fossil teeth together after six years of digging and sorting of sediments in the area near bertonton Nyaungpinle in central Myanmar. The findings of a team involving scientists from the University of Poitiers, France, this time splitting paleontologists around the world, especially when and how early Asian anthropoid made its way from Asia to Africa.
Understand it, because a trip to Africa as it is not easy. Therefore, there is a wider sea than the modern Mediterranean Sea, called the Tethys Sea, separating Asia and Africa. While the discovery of fossil Afrasia not help them solve the mystery of early anthropoids route to the Black continent. "This shows the relatively recent colonization occurred, just before the first early human fossil found in the African fossil record," said Beard.
Professor Jean-Jacques Jaeger of the University of Poitiers said Afrasia djijidae anthropoid fossils in Myanmar shows one of the descendants of early anthropoids have made the colonization of Africa around 37-38 million years ago. But diversity is more widely known early anthropoids from sites that generate Afrotarsius libycus Libya.
These findings make a breakthrough in uncovering the relationship between Afrasia djijidae and Afrotarsius libycus. "This is an important benchmark for determining the date of the colonization of Africa by anthropoids Asia," said Jaeger. "Africa is a place of human origin and Asia is the birthplace of our ancestors." *** [DAILY MAIL | LIVESCIENCE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3904]
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