The discovery of the 165 million-year-old ancestor of humanity

Fossils of an animal believed to be the 165 million-year-old ancestor of modern humans have been discovered in China.

Scientists have discovered fossils of a mammal named Megaconus mammaliaformis in the Inner Mongolia region of China. This is one of the oldest mammals discovered so far.

Supposedly dated to about 165 million years ago, the Megaconus species were bad for the feathered dinosaurs in the Jurassic period, nearly 100 million years before the Tyrannosaurus Rex carnivorous appeared on Earth.

Species Megaconus mammaliaformis are thought to be the ancestors of modern mammals

Professor Zhe-Xi Luo, an expert in anatomy and biology at the University of Chicago (USA), said: 'We finally know the ancestors of all mammals by studying. Save fossils of Megaconus species. It allows us to understand in detail the important transfer of modern mammals from prehistoric mammals. '

The whole body of Megaconus is covered with a protective coat with less sparse abdomen, like modern mammals. On its leg pack there is a long spindle and is believed to contain poison.

'Megaconus fossil studies show that many biological functions related to prehistoric mammalian skin before developing into modern mammals,' said Dr. Zhe-Xi Luo. determined.

Megaconus species is about the size of a large ground squirrel. They appear to be omnivores based on the structure of teeth and jaws. Specifically, the molar teeth evolved to chew on grass plants and a pointed incisor to help them eat insects, worms and even some small reptiles.

The hindquarters and claws of Megaconus species are similar in composition to the current tatu. However, scientists also identified Megaconus species still have the characteristics of reptiles, such as the middle ear still attached to the jaw.

'We cannot say that Megaconus is the direct ancestor of modern humans, but they are our 165 million-year distant ancestor , ' concluded Dr. Zhe-Xi Luo.