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avatar_Halichoeres

Microdocodon, a new Jurassic stem-mammal

Started by Halichoeres, July 19, 2019, 05:48:01 PM

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Halichoeres

July 19, 2019, 05:48:01 PM
Meet Microdocodon gracilis, a stem-group mammal from the Jurassic of China. Its exquisitely preserved throat shows the hyoid bones, which are startlingly mammal-like, suggesting that they had good musculature for powered swallowing, unlike earlier synapsids and many living reptiles. This animal probably predates the production of milk, so the hypothesis that remodeling the hyoid followed from suckling is probably wrong.

The fossil:


And a reconstruction by April Neander:


Paper (paywall): https://science.sciencemag.org/content/365/6450/276
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