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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science

Ida: crucial missing link fossil

Ida missing link fossil: Ida, one of the most complete primate fossils ever found.
Ida, discovered in the Messel pit in Germany, is one of the most complete primate fossils ever found. Key features of her skeleton suggest she is not an ancient lemur. She has no 'grooming claw' on her second toe, a feature that all lemurs share. She also does not have a set of fused teeth in the middle of her bottom jaw called a 'tooth comb'. Finally, the tarsus bone in her ankle is shaped like our ancestors. So it is likely that she is a very early haplorhine primate Photograph: The Link/Atlantic Productions
Ida missing link fossil: The back claws on Ida one of the most complete primate fossils ever found
Ida, one of the most complete primate fossils ever found. She was discovered in the Messel pit in Germany. Ida is obviously a primate because she has nails on her digits rather than claws and she has opposable thumbs and big toes Photograph: Sam Peach/Atlantic Productions
Ida missing link fossil: The front claws on Ida one of the most complete primate fossils ever found
Ida’s left wrist was broken, but had partly healed. The researchers believe this injury would have impaired her climbing ability and may have contributed to her death Photograph: The Link/Atlantic Productions
Ida missing link fossil: The skull of Ida one of the most complete primate fossils ever found
Ida’s skull: large eye sockets suggest she was probably adapted for night vision and so was nocturnal. Her milk teeth are in place with adult teeth forming behind, indicating that she was still a juvenile - probably six to nine months old Photograph: The Link/Atlatnic Productions
Ida missing link fossil: The stomach contents of Ida, a primate fossil
Ida is so well-preserved that her tissues, hair and even her stomach contents are visible. She is also definitely female because she doesn’t have a baculum (penis bone) Photograph: The Link/Atlantic Productions
Ida missing link fossil: A reconstruction of Ida
A reconstruction of Ida Photograph: Courtesy of Atlantic Ltd
Ida missing link fossil: Messel Pit,near Darmstadt, Germany, where Ida the fossil was discovered.
Messel pit, the world renowned fossil site near Darmstadt in Germany, where Ida the fossil was discovered in 1983 Photograph: Atlantic Productions
Ida missing link fossil: Messel Pit, a world renowned fossil site near Darmstadt in Germany.
The Messel site has yielded thousands of superbly preserved fossils including eight species of crocodile, 20 or so snakes, more than 60 specimens of pygmy horse, the largest ant ever to crawl the planet and eight fragmentary primate specimens Photograph: Atlantic Productions
Ida missing link fossil: Dr Jorn Hurum at work
Dr Jørn Hurum at work in the pit Photograph: Atlantic Productions Ltd
Ida missing link fossil: Dr Jens Franzen and Dr Jorn Hurum studying Ida the fossil.
Dr Jens Franzen and Dr Jørn Hurum studying Ida the fossil Photograph: Sam Peach /Atlantic Productions
Ida missing link fossil: Dr Jens Lorenz Franzen studying Ida the fossil.
Dr Jens Lorenz Franzen studying Ida the fossil Photograph: Sam Peach /Atlantic Productions Ltd
Ida missing link fossil: Dr Jorn Hurum studying Ida the fossil.
Dr Jørn Hurum studying Ida the fossil, University of Oslo Natural History Museum Photograph: Sam Peach /Atlantic Productions Ltd
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