May 20, 2009
It’s 26 years since she was discovered, and just 47 million since she wandered unknowingly into the path of a volcano. Today she's causing a stir around the globe, especially among paleontologists and evolutionists.
A fossil known as Darwinius masillae, or Ida to her friends, she was discovered in Germany in 1983, but it was several years before scientists in Norway realised the significance of this particular find.
She may look like a lemur, but very importantly she has forward facing eyes and opposable thumbs and was unveiled today as the missing link between apes and humans in evolutionary terms.
A fossil known as Darwinius masillae, or Ida to her friends, she was discovered in Germany in 1983, but it was several years before scientists in Norway realised the significance of this particular find.
She may look like a lemur, but very importantly she has forward facing eyes and opposable thumbs and was unveiled today as the missing link between apes and humans in evolutionary terms.
