Based on earlier finds, scientists had theorized the species had a relatively large brain. Instead, it had a brain that might have been even smaller than that of a modern lemur, a primate with primitive traits.
Simons said that when this primate lived, Africa was an island, limiting the competition for survival. Simons said brain enlargement may have evolved in this lineage after Africa became connected to Asia, bringing in more animals including new and dangerous predators.
Brain-volume enlargement is favored under conditions of competition because you need to be smarter, Simons said.
1. brainy:有头脑的,聪明的
2. primate:灵长类动物
3. fossilize:变成化石
4. aegyptopithecus:埃及猿
5. tomography:X线体层照相术,能够照出某确定物体上事先规定好的某层部分,而不会照下其它部分的像
6. quarry:采石场科学家对一个保存良好的2900万年前的头骨进行研究,发现这种类猴的猴子、猿和人类祖先并没有预想得那么聪明。
周一,研究人员们说此发现显示灵长类大脑进化时间比原来认为的要晚。
这个小巧的古埃及猿头骨化石保存十分完好。此种灵长类动物生活在2900万年前的温暖埃及丛林,以树为家,以果为食,但是现在这片丛林已经变成沙漠了。
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