[Geology2] Human Ancestors Hunted by Prehistoric Beasts

I hate when that happens . . .

Human Ancestors Hunted by Prehistoric Beasts
Discovery News [USA], Oct 12, 2010

Early humans may have evolved as prey animals rather than as predators,
suggest the remains of our prehistoric primate ancestors that were
devoured by hungry birds [WOW!!!] and carnivorous mammals. The discovery
of multiple de-fleshed, chomped and gnawed bones from the extinct
primates, which lived 16 to 20 million years ago on Rusinga Island,
Kenya, was announced today at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology's
70th Anniversary Meeting in Pittsburgh. At least one of the devoured
primates, an early ape called Proconsul, is thought to have been an
ancestor to both modern humans and chimpanzees. It, and other primates
on the island, were also apparently good eats for numerous predators. "I
have observed multiple tooth pits and probable beak marks on these
fossil primates, which are direct evidence for creodonts and raptors
consuming these primates," researcher Kirsten Jenkins told Discovery
News.

http://news.discovery.com/archaeology/human-ancestors-prey-hunted.html

Also:

University of Florida research provides new understanding of bizarre
extinct mammal
EurekAlert [USA], 11-Oct-2010

University of Florida researchers presenting new fossil evidence of an
exceptionally well-preserved 55-million-year-old North American mammal
have found it shares a common ancestor with rodents and primates,
including humans.The study published today in the online edition of the
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, describes the cranial anatomy
of the extinct mammal, Labidolemur kayi. High resolution CT scans of the
specimens allowed researchers to study minute details in the skull,
including bone structures smaller than one-tenth of a millimeter.
Similarities in bone features with other mammals show L. kayi's living
relatives are rodents, rabbits, flying lemurs, tree shrews and primates.
Researchers said the new information will aide future studies to better
understand the origin of primates.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-10/w-uof101110.php

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