New fossils may prove that mammals existed alongside dinosaurs

Fossils of three early mammalian species from over 200 million years ago suggests that dinosaurs and mammals did coexist on the Earth earlier than previously thought.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The fossils of the squirrel-like creatures were discovered in Liaoning Province in China, and scientists claim that this find means mammals existed about 40 million years earlier than thought.

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The six fossilized skulls and skeletons belong to an extinct group called Haramiyida, which was only known from teeth until recently.

"For decades scientists have been debating whether the extinct group, called Haramiyida, belongs within or outside of Mammalia," said Dr. Jin Meng, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

"Previously everything we knew about these animals was based on fragmented jaws and isolated teeth. But the new specimens we discovered are extremely well preserved."

The animal has been named Shenshou lui, Xianshou linglong, and Xianshou songae and roamed the earth during the Jurassic period.

"They were good climbers and probably spent more time than squirrels in trees," said Dr. Meng.

"Their hands and feet were adapted for holding branches-but not good for running on the ground."

The members of Euharamiyida most likely ate insects, nuts, and fruit with teeth that have many raised points on the crowns, and this newly discovered species has two parallel rows of cusps on each molar, seven cusps on each side.

"What we're showing here is very convincing that these animals are mammals and we need to turn back the clock for mammal divergence," said Dr. Meng.

"But even more importantly these new fossils present a new suite of characters that might help us tell many more stories about ancient mammals."

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