17 million-year-old Brazilian fossils reveal earlier evolution of key mammalian features.

Recent fossil discoveries in Brazil, particularly of the cynodont species Brasilodon quadrangularis and Riograndia guaibensis, have revealed that key mammalian features, such as the jaw and middle ear, evolved earlier than previously thought—by 17 million years. Researchers from the University of Bristol utilized CT scanning to analyze these fossils, demonstrating that mammalian traits developed independently across different lineages, complicating the understanding of early mammal evolution.

September 25, 2024
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