Prehistoric ape may be a 'missing link' in human evolution

A NEWLY discovered prehistoric ape may be a missing link in the evolutionary chain leading to humans, scientists disclosed yesterday.

The 13-million-year-old creature, whose fossil remains were unearthed in Spain, is thought to be the oldest known common ancestor of modern great apes.

Pierolapithecus catalaunicus dates back to a "dark age" in primate development about which little is known.