Adapidae

Adapidae is an extinct family of anthropoid primates that lived from the early Miocene to the late Pliocene, approximately 20 to 4 million years ago. Members of this family are considered a sister group to the lineage that led to modern apes and Old World monkeys. Fossils attributed to Adapidae have been found across Africa, Asia, and Europe, indicating a broad geographic distribution during the Neogene.

The family is divided into several subfamilies and genera, with the most well‑known being Adapis, which is often referred to as the "giant adapid" due to its relatively large body size. Adapids were primarily arboreal, possessing long tails, curved nails for grasping, and a dental formula that shows a well‑developed lower canine and upper molars adapted for an omnivorous diet. Skeletal remains suggest a combination of sloth‑like locomotion and leaping behaviors.

Adapids are important for understanding primate evolution because they provide insight into the early diversification of anthropoids. Their morphological features bridge traits seen in later platyrrhines (New World monkeys) and catarrhines (Old World monkeys, apes). The decline of the family is associated with climatic shifts during the late Miocene, leading to habitat changes that favored other primate groups.

Research on Adapidae continues through new fossil discoveries, improved dating techniques, and comparative anatomical studies. These efforts refine timelines for primate evolution and help clarify the relationships among early anthropoids.