The new finding helps explain why mammals have better hearing

Now, scientists have identified the above evolutionary stages in the fossils of a newly discovered species that lived 125 million years ago in what is now northeastern China. This is indeed the missing link in the evolutionary chain.

The findings were published in the December 5 issue of the journal Science and are hailed by experts as a turning point in paleontological research.

Guillermo Rougier, an evolutionary biology expert at Louisville University who did not participate in the study, said: "This is a great series of evidence," adding that the specimens the group is based on. "very interesting" research.

Mr. Jin Meng of the National Museum of American History in New York, explained the new research is based on the fossils of six separate animals, including primitive mammals from the early Cretaceous period, which they called " Origolestes lii ", lives next to the dinosaurs, and looks and sized like a rodent.

Dolphins locate by echoes.(Photo: straitstimes.com).

Reptiles use their jaw bones to chew and transmit external sounds through vibrations to the brain, unlike a much more sophisticated and complex hearing system in mammals, which use hammer, anvil and pedal bone in the ear to receive sound (in humans) or echolocation (for dolphins).

Scientists have assumed that separating the chewing and listening system thus eliminates the mechanical constraints between the two processes, allowing mammals to both diversify their diet, Just improve your hearing.

Through computed tomography (CT) images and other imaging techniques, the Chinese-led team was able to describe in detail the samples, including the structure of the bones and sub-cartilage. responsible for sound reception, there was no direct bone-to-bone contact in previous animals.

Mr. Jin Meng said: "We now have fossil evidence of the time of evolution, confirming the hypothesis." Meanwhile, expert Rougier said the fossils discovered were "treasures" for researchers.