What is Darwinius?
Q: What is Darwinius?
A: Darwinius is a genus of primates known from only one fossil.
Q: Where was Darwinius discovered?
A: Darwinius was discovered at the Messel Pit, a disused shale quarry near the village of Messel in Germany.
Q: When was Darwinius discovered?
A: Darwinius was discovered in 1983.
Q: How old is the Darwinius fossil?
A: The Darwinius fossil dates from the Eocene epoch, 47 million years ago.
Q: What is the significance of the name Darwinius?
A: The genus Darwinius was named to celebrate Charles Darwin on his bicentenary.
Q: What is the significance of the name masillae?
A: The species name masillae honors Messel, where the specimen was found.
Q: How was the Darwinius fossil discovered?
A: The fossil was discovered by an amateur at the Messel Pit and was divided into two parts (slab and partial counterslab) after excavation. It was not reassembled until 2007.
