Science Daily
The first primates may have evolved in the cold, not the tropics
2026-06-20
A study proposes that the earliest primates originated in cold, dry regions of North America rather than tropical forests, with some possibly surviving Arctic conditions via metabolic slowdowns or hibernation. Dramatic climate shifts are identified as key drivers of primate evolution and dispersal.
Why It Matters
Insights into early primate adaptations to climate inform the broader evolutionary context and environmental pressures shaping the lineage leading to humans.
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