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Reunion of fossil halves splits scientists

Nature (2009)Cite this article

Well-preserved primate suffers identity crisis.

Palaeontologists have identified a new species of primate by putting together two halves of an unusually complete fossil, which were separated for decades by the vagaries of the fossil trade. One half of the fossil — which some media reports have been quick to label 'the missing link' — was even doctored by a past owner to make it look more impressive.

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References

  1. Franzen, J. L. et al. PLoS ONE 4, e5723; doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0005723 (2009).

  2. Franzen, J.L. in Anthropoid Origins (eds Fleagle, J. F. & Kay, R. F.) 99-122 (Plenum, New York, 1994).

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Authors
  1. Lucas Laursen
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Restricted access to fossils hinders claim confirmation

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Revealing the Link

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Laursen, L. Reunion of fossil halves splits scientists. Nature (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/news.2009.494

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/news.2009.494

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