A groundbreaking discovery of cynodont fossils in Brazil has upended traditional views on mammal evolution, revealing earlier and independent development of key features.
Key Findings:
- Mammalian jaw and middle ear traits evolved multiple times in different cynodont groups.
- CT scans revealed a ‘mammalian-style’ jaw joint in Riograndia guaibensis, 17 million years earlier than previously thought.
- Brasilodon quadrangularis lacked this jaw joint, indicating varied evolutionary experiments.
Expert Insights:
“The acquisition of the mammalian jaw contact was a key moment in mammal evolution.” – James Rawson, University of Bristol
“These Brazilian fossils have shown that different cynodont groups were experimenting with various jaw joint types.” – James Rawson
Implications:
- Early mammal evolution was more complex and varied than previously understood.
- Mammalian features evolved in a patchwork, or mosaic, fashion across different cynodont groups.
- South American fossil record holds significant potential for further discoveries.
Reference:
“Brazilian fossils reveal homoplasy in the oldest mammalian jaw joint” in Nature (2024)
Share Your Thoughts:
How do these findings reshape our understanding of mammal evolution and the development of key characteristics?
