Fossil Ida, also known as Darwinius masillae, was discovered in 1983 in Messel Pit, Germany. It was unveiled to the world in 2009 as an exceptionally well-preserved primate fossil, and some researchers claimed it to be a “missing link” in human evolution.
However, this claim is controversial, and many experts do not consider Ida to be a direct ancestor of humans. While Ida is an important and significant find, its place in the evolutionary tree is still debated among scientists.
Ida belongs to a group of primates called adapiforms, which are extinct and are not directly related to humans. Adapiforms are more closely related to modern lemurs and lorises. Nevertheless, Ida’s well-preserved features have provided researchers with valuable information about the anatomy and behavior of early primates.
Overall, Ida is an extraordinary find that has helped shed light on the evolution of primates. While it is not a direct ancestor of humans, it provides valuable insights into the diversity of life on Earth and the complex evolutionary processes that have shaped it.