62-Million-Year-Old Skeleton Reveals Close Evolutionary Link to Humans

The discovery of a remarkably complete Mixodectes pungens skeleton sheds light on its arboreal lifestyle, diet, and evolutionary significance.

The Mixodectes pungens skeleton, discovered in New Mexico, is the most complete of its kind, offering new insights into early mammalian evolution.
This small, tree-dwelling mammal lived 62 million years ago during the Paleocene epoch and weighed about three pounds.
Researchers found that Mixodectes primarily ate leaves and had anatomical adaptations for climbing and clinging to trees.
Phylogenetic analyses place Mixodectes close to primates and colugos, suggesting its evolutionary proximity to humans.
The study highlights how mammals diversified and occupied unique ecological niches after the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs.