Carpolestes simpsoni

Carpolestes simpsoni is an extinct species of Plesiadapiforms, late species of Carpolestes which is one of the earliest primate-like mammals appearing in the fossil record during the late Paleocene. C. simpsoni had grasping digits but no forward-facing eyes.

Carpolestes simpsoni Temporal range: late Paleocene, 58.7–56.8 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Plesiadapiformes
Family:	†Carpolestidae
Genus:	†Carpolestes
Species:	†C. simpsoni
Binomial name
†Carpolestes simpsoni Bloch and Gingerich, 1998

Weighing about 100 g (3.5 oz), 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.^[1]