* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Country music star apologizes after drunken show ends with cops taking him down: ‘I’m not OK’ – PennLive.com

    Country Music Star Apologizes After Drunken Show Ends in Police Intervention: ‘I’m Not OK

    Comanche Nation Entertainment closes casino near Devol – KSWO 7News

    Comanche Nation Entertainment Closes Casino Near Devol in Surprising Move

    Erykah Badu Announces ‘Abi & Alan’ Album With The Alchemist Will Be Delayed – yahoo.com

    Erykah Badu Opens Up About the Delay of Her Highly Anticipated ‘Abi & Alan’ Album with The Alchemist

    If You Needed Some BTS Pics Of The Rock’s Tree Trunk Legs To Spice Up Your Day, We Got ‘Em – yahoo.com

    Need a Boost? Check Out These Epic BTS Shots of The Rock’s Tree Trunk Legs!

    Sabrina Carpenter’s pearl-clutching magic? Humor – CNN

    Sabrina Carpenter’s pearl-clutching magic? Humor – CNN

    South Park Is In Trouble And Needs To Change Course, Fast – yahoo.com

    South Park Faces Major Challenges and Must Adapt Fast to Survive

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    China’s CATL sells stake in Finnish subcontract car manufacturer – Reuters

    China’s CATL Sells Stake in Finnish Auto Supplier in Strategic Move

    This Secret Technology Will Make The IPhone 17 Super Thin Air – VOI.ID

    How This Breakthrough Technology Will Make the iPhone 17 Incredibly Thin and Lightweight

    Gator football kicks off with excitement and new technology – WCJB | TV20

    Gator Football Kicks Off with Thrilling Action and Innovative Technology

    Marvell Technology (MRVL) Loses 18.6% as Growth Outlook Fails to Impress – Yahoo Finance

    Marvell Technology (MRVL) Loses 18.6% as Growth Outlook Fails to Impress – Yahoo Finance

    Propelling solar technology into a perovskite future – CORDIS

    Propelling solar technology into a perovskite future – CORDIS

    13 Top Technology Trends (2025) – Exploding Topics

    13 Game-Changing Technology Trends to Watch in 2025

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Country music star apologizes after drunken show ends with cops taking him down: ‘I’m not OK’ – PennLive.com

    Country Music Star Apologizes After Drunken Show Ends in Police Intervention: ‘I’m Not OK

    Comanche Nation Entertainment closes casino near Devol – KSWO 7News

    Comanche Nation Entertainment Closes Casino Near Devol in Surprising Move

    Erykah Badu Announces ‘Abi & Alan’ Album With The Alchemist Will Be Delayed – yahoo.com

    Erykah Badu Opens Up About the Delay of Her Highly Anticipated ‘Abi & Alan’ Album with The Alchemist

    If You Needed Some BTS Pics Of The Rock’s Tree Trunk Legs To Spice Up Your Day, We Got ‘Em – yahoo.com

    Need a Boost? Check Out These Epic BTS Shots of The Rock’s Tree Trunk Legs!

    Sabrina Carpenter’s pearl-clutching magic? Humor – CNN

    Sabrina Carpenter’s pearl-clutching magic? Humor – CNN

    South Park Is In Trouble And Needs To Change Course, Fast – yahoo.com

    South Park Faces Major Challenges and Must Adapt Fast to Survive

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    China’s CATL sells stake in Finnish subcontract car manufacturer – Reuters

    China’s CATL Sells Stake in Finnish Auto Supplier in Strategic Move

    This Secret Technology Will Make The IPhone 17 Super Thin Air – VOI.ID

    How This Breakthrough Technology Will Make the iPhone 17 Incredibly Thin and Lightweight

    Gator football kicks off with excitement and new technology – WCJB | TV20

    Gator Football Kicks Off with Thrilling Action and Innovative Technology

    Marvell Technology (MRVL) Loses 18.6% as Growth Outlook Fails to Impress – Yahoo Finance

    Marvell Technology (MRVL) Loses 18.6% as Growth Outlook Fails to Impress – Yahoo Finance

    Propelling solar technology into a perovskite future – CORDIS

    Propelling solar technology into a perovskite future – CORDIS

    13 Top Technology Trends (2025) – Exploding Topics

    13 Game-Changing Technology Trends to Watch in 2025

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

Baby teeth reveal surprisingly long lifespans of small Jurassic mammals

July 25, 2024
in Science
Baby teeth reveal surprisingly long lifespans of small Jurassic mammals
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

an illustration of two mouse-like animals in a forest, with a stegosaurus walking by and a mosquito flying over them

An artist’s impression of a small, early mammal called Krusatodon kirtlingtonesis. It lived among dinosaurs during the Middle Jurassic.
Maija Karala

A team of paleontologists combing through Scotland’s fossil-rich and misty Isle of Skye discovered the remains of a small, but exciting, early mammal. The mouse-sized creature called a Krusatodon was replacing its baby teeth with its adult teeth when it died and was a juvenile. Its ancient teeth-changing indicates that small early mammals may have had longer lifespans and development periods than their modern counterparts of a similar size. The findings are detailed in a study published July 24 in the journal Nature. 

Meet the mammaliaformes

The specimens in this new study date back to the Middle Jurassic–about 166 million years ago. At this time, mammaliaformes–early mammals and their closest extinct relatives–were really starting to come into their own. One of the most common mammal orders at this time were the docodontans, who lived from Middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. They are known for some distinct sets of chompers and are not a far cry from their living ancestors. 

“For docodontans and other early mammals, life would have been similar to that of small mammals (like shrews and mice) today,” study co-author and National Museums Scotland paleobiologist Elsa Panciroli tells Popular Science.

[Related: New fossils of tiny, toothy early mammals could be a major missing link.]

Most of them ate insects and lived around the undergrowth where they were safe from predators–like a dinosaur’s clomping feet and sharp jaws. They would have been most active at dawn, dusk, and during the night. 

“However, the docodontans are especially interesting because we know from their fossils that some of them grew larger (around the size of a polecat) and could also climb trees, swim, and dig,” says Panciroli. “They also ate a much wider range of foods, thanks to having the first very complex shaped teeth. In other words they were evolutionary innovators for their time period.”

Modern mammals typically grow rapidly as juveniles and stop growing by adulthood. As anyone who has owned a hamster can tell you, species with a smaller adult body mass generally develop quickly, mature at a younger age, live shorter lives, and have larger litters than those that are bigger. 

Mammaliaformes generally weighed less than three ounces or so, but also had longer lifespans and slower growth rates than today’s small-bodied mammals. For scientists, understanding where this pattern emerged has been a challenge due to a lack of juvenile fossils. 

Growing pains

The first fossil in this new study was uncovered back in 1972 and belonged to an adult docodontan species Krusatodon kirtlingtonensis. It was unstudied until Panciroli began to work on it a few years ago, but proved to be the most complete early mammal fossil ever uncovered in the United Kingdom. In 2016, a second Krustodon fossil was discovered. One that intrigued paleontologists. 

“We soon realized it was the same species, and that it was a juvenile. This was incredibly exciting, because fossils of young mammals are exceptionally rare, especially from the Mesozoic,” says Panciroli. “We realized that there were questions about growth and development we could address with these two fossils together that haven’t been possible until now. From there, it was a case of figuring out the best methods to study them.”

National Museums Scotland’s Elsa Panciroli examines two Krusatodon kirtlingtonesis fossils. Credit: Duncan McGlynn Duncan McGlynn

The team analyzed the growth increments within the teeth of both specimens. They found that the adult was about seven years old when it died, while the juvenile was 7 to 24 months old when it died. The juvenile was also in the process of replacing its baby–or primary–teeth with its adult teeth. 

Based on the length of the teeth and the forelimb and thigh bone circumferences, they estimate that the mature Krusatodon was between the size of a pygmy tree shrew (about two ounces) and a degu (roughly 5.5 ounces). The juvenile was roughly between 51 and 59 percent of the body mass of the adult. 

The team believes that Krusatodon development was likely prolonged and took place over a longer period of time and part of a much longer maximum lifespan than living animals of a similar adult body size.

“In other ways they had already begun to grow like a modern mammal, they just took a lot longer to do it,” says Panciroli. “Despite growing more slowly, the pattern of their growth was similar to mammals today, so they tell us about a possible intermediate stage in mammal evolution.”

More than just Nessie

The Isle of Skye on Scotland’s northwestern coast is a fossil hotspot. It’s home to the remains, tracks, and footprints of a large variety of dinosaurs that lived during the Middle Jurassic Period. But that’s not all. 

[Related: New pterosaur species discovered in Scotland.]

“The Isle of Skye is famous for dinosaur fossils, and although they are exciting, it is tiny fossils like these that are proving to be scientifically important,” says Panciroli. “They rank among the best in the world in terms of their preservation and completeness, but they also give us a glimpse into the origins of today’s ecosystems, and the major animal groups like mammals, lizards and amphibians.”

The team believes that mammal growth sped up later in the Jurassic, but are still not certain. They will need to find more fossils of younger mammals to determine this and piece together a better timeline. However, Panciroli is optimistic. 

“Our team is making new discoveries every year, so it is a very exciting time for Scottish paleontology!” says Panciroli.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Popular Science – https://www.popsci.com/science/jurassic-mammal-teeth/

Tags: Revealscienceteeth
Previous Post

New Potential Obesity Treatment Discovered: Hidden Brain Receptor May Hold Key to Controlling Your Appetite

Next Post

Not to ruffle feathers, but chickens blush

Construction of forest ecological security patterns based on MSPA model and circuit theory in the Desertification Control forests in South China Karst – Nature

Construction of forest ecological security patterns based on MSPA model and circuit theory in the Desertification Control forests in South China Karst – Nature

September 2, 2025
Bringing life science to life: Park Crossing teacher recognized – WSFA

Bringing life science to life: Park Crossing teacher recognized – WSFA

September 2, 2025
Take flight: EH seventh-graders learn science through paper airplanes – The Daily Reporter – Greenfield Indiana

Soar to New Heights: Seventh-Graders Explore Science with Paper Airplanes

September 2, 2025
Marcos orders lifestyle audit of all government officials — Dateline Philippines – Asian Journal News

Marcos Initiates Comprehensive Lifestyle Audit of Government Officials to Boost Accountability

September 2, 2025
China’s CATL sells stake in Finnish subcontract car manufacturer – Reuters

China’s CATL Sells Stake in Finnish Auto Supplier in Strategic Move

September 2, 2025
Mariners call up top catcher prospect Harry Ford, which could help Cal Raleigh late in season – Yahoo Sports

Mariners Elevate Top Catcher Prospect Harry Ford, Strengthening Cal Raleigh’s Late-Season Push

September 2, 2025
ECB’s Lagarde warns of risk to world economy via Trump interference on Fed – Reuters

ECB’s Lagarde warns of risk to world economy via Trump interference on Fed – Reuters

September 1, 2025
The Resilient Engine: Investing in Poland’s Outperforming Economy Amid Global Slowdown – AInvest

The Resilient Engine: Why Investing in Poland’s Booming Economy Is a Smart Move Amid Global Slowdown

September 1, 2025
Country music star apologizes after drunken show ends with cops taking him down: ‘I’m not OK’ – PennLive.com

Country Music Star Apologizes After Drunken Show Ends in Police Intervention: ‘I’m Not OK

September 1, 2025
Arts to promote mental health goal of new University of Michigan clinical program – MLive.com

Innovative University of Michigan Program Harnesses the Arts to Enhance Mental Health

September 1, 2025

Categories

Archives

September 2025
MTWTFSS
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930 
« Aug    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (802)
  • Economy (820)
  • Entertainment (21,700)
  • General (16,804)
  • Health (9,861)
  • Lifestyle (835)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (822)
  • Politics (828)
  • Science (16,031)
  • Sports (21,319)
  • Technology (15,801)
  • World (801)

Recent News

Construction of forest ecological security patterns based on MSPA model and circuit theory in the Desertification Control forests in South China Karst – Nature

Construction of forest ecological security patterns based on MSPA model and circuit theory in the Desertification Control forests in South China Karst – Nature

September 2, 2025
Bringing life science to life: Park Crossing teacher recognized – WSFA

Bringing life science to life: Park Crossing teacher recognized – WSFA

September 2, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version