THE American Museum of Natural History in New York, a revolutionary discovery

THE American Museum of Natural History in New York, a revolutionary discovery - one that will stand as a milestone for paleontologists and evolutionists everywhere was announced. Scientists have unveiled a 47-million-year-old fossilized skeleton of a lemur monkey hailed as the missing link in human evolution. Scientists have been secretively studying the 1-foot-9-inch female for two years. The “missing link” in connecting human skeletal structure to early mammals.


The 47 million year old fossil

Officially known as Darwinius masillae, the fossil of the lemur-like creature dubbed Ida shows it had opposable thumbs like humans and fingernails instead of claws. Scientists say the cat sized animal's hind legs offer evidence of evolutionary changes that led to primates standing upright - a breakthrough that could finally confirm Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.



"This specimen is like finding the Lost Ark for archeologists," lead scientist Jorn Hurum said at a ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History. [Source]

This is an exciting and validating day for scientists everywhere. Broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough has said: “This little creature is going to show us our connection with all the rest of the mammals.”

Get new Ida Fossil pictures and video from The Link website. This site is a team of researchers behind her. Read more information from open source journal PLoS ONEto read about the scientists findings.

News article and Source: TED Blog