Tag Archives: Mammals
Australia’s Polar Cretaceous mammals
The Cenozoic Era is commonly referred to as the ‘Age of Mammals’. That is certainly the time in the history of life when their fossils are most abundant and diverse. However, two-thirds of mammalian history was during the Mesozoic Era … Continue reading
Underwater acoustic localization of marine mammals and vehicles
Researchers have developed an underwater acoustic system for the localization of marine mammals, underwater vehicles and other sound sources in the ocean, using no more than a single hydrophone (basically an underwater microphone) as a receiver. Geology News — ScienceDaily
Mammals switched to daytime activity after dinosaur extinction
Mammals only started being active in the daytime after non-avian dinosaurs were wiped out about 66 million years ago (mya), finds a new study. Strange & Offbeat: Fossils & Ruins News — ScienceDaily
Fossil of hairy, squirrel-sized creature sheds light on evolution of earliest mammals
It appears that a 165myr-old omnivore may have had an armadillo-like gait. A newly discovered fossil has revealed the evolutionary adaptations of a 165myr-old proto-mammal, providing evidence that traits such as hair and fur originated well before the rise of … Continue reading
Variation in the recovery of tetrapods after the Permian extinction opened the door for dinosaurs and mammals
The end-Permian mass extinction (EPME) occurred about 250 million years ago and represents the Earth’s most catastrophic extinction event. Paleontology News — ScienceDaily
First winged mammals from the Jurassic period discovered
Two 160-million-year-old mammal fossils discovered in China show that the forerunners of mammals in the Jurassic Period evolved to glide and live in trees. With long limbs, long hand and foot fingers, and wing-like membranes for tree-to-tree gliding, Maiopatagium furculiferum … Continue reading
Fossil of hairy, squirrel-sized creature sheds light on evolution of earliest mammals
It appears that a 165myr-old omnivore may have had an armadillo-like gait. A newly discovered fossil has revealed the evolutionary adaptations of a 165myr-old proto-mammal, providing evidence that traits such as hair and fur originated well before the rise of … Continue reading
Ancient otter tooth found in Mexico suggests mammals migrated across America
An ancient otter tooth recently discovered in Mexico suggests certain mammals migrated across America during the Miocene geologic epoch, roughly 23 million to 5.3 million years ago. The new hypothesized route questions other theories such as migrations above Canada and … Continue reading
Genetic evidence points to nocturnal early mammals
New genetic evidence suggesting that early mammals had good night-time vision adds to fossil and behavioral studies indicating that early mammals were nocturnal. Paleontology News — ScienceDaily
Kiss of dying: Mammals have been the primary animals to supply venom
The fossil of the Euchambersia therapsid (a pre-mammalian reptile), that lived in South Africa about 260 million years in the past, is the primary proof of the oldest mammal to supply venom. CT scans of fossils of the pre-mammalian reptile … Continue reading