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The evolution of the digestive system has formed a significant influence in mammal evolution. With the emergence of mammals, the digestive system was modified in a variety of ways depending on the animal's diet. For example, cats and most carnivores have simple large intestines, while the horse as a herbivore has a voluminous large intestine. [127]
Ceratopsian dinosaurs appear in the fossil record and the oldest known eutherian mammal: Juramaia. 160 Ma Multituberculate mammals (genus Rugosodon) appear in eastern China. 155 Ma First blood-sucking insects (ceratopogonids), rudist bivalves, and cheilostome bryozoans.
The origins and early evolution of primates is shrouded in mystery due to lack of fossil evidence. They are believed to have split from plesiadapiforms in Eurasia around the early Eocene or earlier. The first true primates so far found in the fossil record are fragmentary and already demonstrate the major split between strepsirrhines and ...
Historia animalium et al., Constantinople, 12th century (Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, pluteo 87.4). History of Animals (Ancient Greek: Τῶν περὶ τὰ ζῷα ἱστοριῶν, Ton peri ta zoia historion, "Inquiries on Animals"; Latin: Historia Animalium, "History of Animals") is one of the major texts on biology by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.
It had previously been thought the brains of mammals generally grew over time in the wake of the dinosaurs’ demise. Mammals put brawn before brains after dinosaur extinction – study Skip to ...
One archosaur group, the dinosaurs, were the dominant land vertebrates for the rest of the Mesozoic, [111] and birds evolved from one group of dinosaurs. [107] During this time mammals' ancestors survived only as small, mainly nocturnal insectivores, which may have accelerated the development of mammalian traits such as endothermy and hair. [112]
Dinosaurs evolved from more primitive reptiles in the aftermath of Earth's biggest mass-extinction event caused by extreme volcanism at the end of the Permian Period about 252 million years ago.
“For over 100 million years when dinosaurs were the dominant predators, mammals were generally small, nocturnal, and short-lived.” The pressure to stay alive eliminated the genes needed for ...