New species of ancient cynodont, 220 million years old, discovered

[FfFfFfFF 58,072]

Fossilized jaw bone fragments of a rat-like creature found at the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona last year by a Virginia Tech College of Science Ph.D. candidate are in fact a newly discovered 220-million-year-old species of cynodont or stem-mammal, a precursor of modern-day mammals.

The finding of this new species, Kataigidodon venetus, has been published today in the journal Biology Letters by lead author Ben Kligman, a doctoral student in the Department of Geosciences.

"This discovery sheds light on the geography and environment during the early evolution of mammals," Kligman said.

Scientists expect that the Kataigidodon would have been living in such a lush tropical forest ecosystem.

Source: 1, 2

[Sneaky Oliver 22,973]

There must be a big amount of species which fossils might have completely vanished or are yet to be found! That's so interesting! 

[Ladey Gaygay 9,321]

1 hour ago, Sneaky Oliver said:

There must be a big amount of species which fossils might have completely vanished or are yet to be found! That's so interesting! 

like the original LG5

[Sneaky Oliver 22,973]

47 minutes ago, Ladey Gaygay said:

like the original LG5

 

Original LG5 might be a mythological creature though 

[Guest Adarsh]

A rat is a RAT

[Galactic Mess 1,393]

Nice! I love how we only have access to little pieces of the distant past and have to theorize about it, makes every discovery much more thrilling