The strange shape of a 66 million year old 'crazy beast'

Scientists discovered the 66 million-year-old fossil of the world's oldest mammal, with a very bizarre shape.

Fossil Adalatherium.

This creature is known as the Adalatherium (crazy animal) . Fossils were discovered in the northwest of Madagascar, part of the supercontinent Gondwana millions of years ago.

What surprises scientists is that the Adalatherium has a strange body, strange teeth and monstrous holes in the skull.

Image of the skeleton of Adalatherium hui after being rearranged.

"When Dr. Krause showed it to me at a scientific conference and consulted, I said that I've never seen anything like this. This type of mammal has teeth that we don't have. find something comparable today, "said Guillermo Rougier, co-author of the study.

Simulation image of the Adalatherium. (Photo: Science).

The fossil of Adalatherium was first discovered in 1999 with the hip and back pieces of the skull. They are very well preserved.

Rougier describes Adalatherium as a beaver or small guinea pig. It has 2 long hind legs; 2 front legs like dog or cat. He and his colleagues believe that the shape of the Adalatherium may stem from the fact that Madagascar is an isolated island.

"The adalatherium was a product of the isolation period when the island of Madagascar separated from India and shifted to Africa. So basically, this could be an example of what we call island biogeography. or island evolution, " said Rougier.

According to Rougier, isolated places for a long time often produce unique results in birth c. "Adalatherium is an animal we don't see any resemblance to," he added.

Madagascar has separated from India and never reached Africa during its 100 million year journey.