Akidolestes

In Depth        Akidolestes displays a number of‭ ‬features which are seen in monotreme mammals,‭ ‬including a similar pubis and the presence of cervical ribs.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬other observations of the holotype specimen mean that there is no doubt that Akidolestes was a spalacotheriid mammal.‭ ‬The monotreme-like features are probably convergent features or traits from an ancestral … Read more

Maotherium

In Depth        A symmetrodont mammal from the Early Cretaceous of China,‭ ‬Maotherium would have been a small predatory of insects.‭ ‬Maotherium was named after the Chinese politician Mao Zedong. Further Reading -‭ ‬A new symmetrodont mammal with fur impressions from the Mesozoic of China.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Acta Geologica Sinica‭ ‬77‭(‬1‭)‬:7-14.‭ ‬-‭ ‬G.‭ ‬W.‭ ‬Rougier,‭ ‬Q.‭ ‬Ji‭ … Read more