| Carpolestes simpsoni Temporal range: late Paleocene, | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Plesiadapiformes |
| Family: | † Carpolestidae |
| Genus: | † Carpolestes |
| Species: | †C. simpsoni |
| Binomial name | |
| †Carpolestes simpsoni Bloch and Gingerich, 1998 | |
Carpolestes simpsoni is an extinct species of Plesiadapiforms, late species of Carpolestes which is one of the earliest primate-like mammals appearing in the fossil record during the late Paleocene. C. simpsoni had grasping digits but no forward-facing eyes.
Weighing about 100 g (3.5 oz), C. simpsoni appeared adapted for an arboreal habitat. One large, nail-tipped toe opposed other toes, allowing a firm grip on branches. [1] Like other species of Carpolestes, the dental morphology of C. simpsoni is specially adapted to eating fruit, seeds, and invertebrates. [2]
