Squirrel-like creature, possibly a distant ancestor of humans

In the history of mammalian evolution, Plesiadapis may have been an important link between ancient rodents and primates.

Living in the Paleocene. Plesiadapis appeared about 58 to 55 million years ago, right after the dinosaurs went extinct, during the period when mammals began to thrive. Photo: researchgate.net.

Squirrel-like body structure. With a small body, thick fur and long tail, Plesiadapis looks quite similar to modern squirrels. Photo: googleusercontent.com.

Unique teeth. They have long incisors and molars adapted for grinding plant foods, a feature that many scientists associate with rodents. Photo: umich.edu.

Good climbing ability. Plesiadapis's hands and feet show that they were adapted for climbing trees, helping them find food and avoid predators. Photo: Pinterest.

Diverse diet. They mainly eat leaves, fruits, seeds and possibly insects, showing flexibility in exploiting food sources. Photo: eferrit.com.

Widely distributed. Plesiadapis fossils have been found in both North America and Europe, proving that they once had a large living range. Photo: pikabu.ru.

Role in primate evolution. Plesiadapis is often considered one of the earliest candidates for the ancestor of primates – the group of animals that includes humans, although there is still much debate. Photo: Pinterest.

Fossils are important for research. Fossils of this species, especially the skull and teeth, help paleontologists better understand the transition from ancient rodents to primates. Photo: wikimedia.org.

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