Ancient ’Saber-Toothed’ Predator Rewrites Mammal Evolution History
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The exceptionally well-preserved skeleton, found in mallorca, Spain, includes fragments of bone, vertebrae, ribs, and importantly, a near-complete femur. This provides valuable clues about the animalS locomotion, revealing a gait that was in between that of reptiles and mammals.
This groundbreaking discovery, published in the journal *Nature Communications*, challenges previous understanding of mammalian evolution.
“While the fossil appears to be about 270 million years old,the mammal might have been alive over 30 million years ago,” explains study author Kenneth D. angielczyk. This significant gap in the fossil record, termed the “ghost lineage”, adds another layer of complexity to the puzzle of mammalian evolution.
An Ancient Supercontinent
The discovery not only elucidates mammalian evolutionary history but also provides insight into the ancient supercontinent of Pangaea. Gorgonopsians are believed to have inhabited various parts of this vast landmass, including the Mediterranean islands.
Researchers estimate that this remarkable predator was roughly the size of a dog, making it one of the largest land predators of its time. The exceptional preservation of its fossil remains has provided scientists with a rare glimpse into the dawn of mammalian history.
Before the reign of dinosaurs, an era of ancient mammal relatives thrived. These creatures, though, looked vastly different from the mammals we certainly know today, according to Dr. Angielczyk.
