Swimming in Jurassic waters
2006/02/27 Rementeria Argote, Nagore - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa
They discover the fossil of a mammal similar to castor and otter. It is the oldest fossil of an aquatic mammal discovered to date. It is one hundred and sixty-four million years old and is housed in a museum of Chinese paleontology. This discovery has been announced in the journal Science.
In the fossil the skeleton is almost complete and, for its appearance, this dark mammal is called Castorocauda lutrasimilis. Its name indicates that it was a mammal like the otter of the beaver tail. It is believed that customs would also be similar to those of the otter: an important part of his life in water, which would be mainly fed with fish.
The history of the evolution of mammals is complex and full of branches. Apparently, a group of relatives of C. lutrasimilis was the one who gave to all current mammals, while the branch of this species was lost.
Photo: Mark A. Klinger / CMNH.
