Carpolestes simpsoni

{{Short description|Extinct species of mammal}}

{{Speciesbox

| fossil_range = late Paleocene, {{Fossil range|58.7|56.8}}

| image = CarpolestesCL.png

| taxon = Carpolestes simpsoni

| authority = Bloch and Gingerich, 1998

}}

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.

Weighing about {{cvt|100|g}}, 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.{{cite journal | author = Biknevicius, A.R. | year = 1983 | title = Dental function and diet in the Carpolestidae (Primates, Plesiadapiformes) | journal = American Journal of Physical Anthropology | volume = 71 | issue = 2 | pages = 157–171 | doi = 10.1002/ajpa.1330710204 | pmid = 3799823}}