Fossils of 6.4 million-years-old monkey found in China

Scientists have found three fossils of 6.4-million years old world monkeys at the Shuitangba lignite mine in northeastern Yunnan Province of China. The discovery indicated that this monkey species existed in Asia at the same time as apes, and are probably the ancestors of some of the modern monkeys in the area, the study published in the 'Journal of Human Evolution', reported. "This is significant because they are some of the very oldest fossils of monkeys outside of Africa," said study author Nina G Jablonski from the Penn State University. "It is close to or actually the ancestor of many of the living monkeys of East Asia. One of the interesting things from the perspective of palaeontology is that this monkey occurs at the same place and the same time as ancient apes in Asia," Jablonski added. (IANS)

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