''Carpolestes simpsoni'' is an extinct species of Plesiadapiforms, late species of ''

Carpolestes ''Carpolestes'' is a genus of extinct primate-like mammals from the late Paleocene of North America. It first existed around 58 million years ago. The three species of ''Carpolestes'' appear to form a Lineage (evolution), lineage, with the earli ...

'' which is one of the earliest primate-like mammals appearing in the fossil record during the late

Paleocene The Paleocene ( ), or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 mya (unit), million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), ...

. ''C. simpsoni'' had grasping digits but no forward-facing eyes. Weighing about , ''C. simpsoni'' appeared adapted for an arboreal habitat. One large, nail-tipped toe opposed other toes, allowing a firm grip on branches. Like other species of ''Carpolestes'', the dental morphology of ''C. simpsoni'' is specially adapted to eating fruit, seeds, and invertebrates.

References

External links

Mikko's Phylogeny Archive

Plesiadapiformes Paleocene mammals Prehistoric mammals of North America {{paleo-mammal-stub