Description: Over the last few years, Aye-aye Pod co-host Matt Borths has been part of a paleontology team exploring an exciting new fossil site called Topernawi, which is near Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. But, aren’t lemurs from Madagascar? What’s a Lemur Center paleontologist doing in Kenya? In this episode, co-host Megan McGrath turns the interview spotlight on Matt to figure out if he’s landed on the wrong continent. Turns out Topernawi – a fossil site that was only discovered a few years ago – may have ancient apes, monkeys, and lemur fossils from the time just before lemurs rafted across the ocean to Madagascar. Topernawi has fossils of remarkable African creatures like elephant and giant hyraxes. Tune in for the lemurs. Stay for the giant hyraxes. Matt and Megan also discuss baby season at the Duke Lemur Center, other famous fossils from Kenya, and the weird objects Megan needs to find to tell the story of lemur reproduction.
Click here for a full transcript of this episode.
Click here for a blog post about Matt’s time at Topernawi.
Click here for the research paper on the skeleton of Homo habilis.
Click here for news coverage of the skeleton of Homo habilis.
Click here for Wikipedia’s rundown of Lake Turkana fun facts.
Click here for images of Turkana from Matt’s time teaching a field course there.