Recent findings on the island of Mallorca have shed light on the ancient history of mammals. A fossil of a gorgonopsid, estimated to be 270-280 million years old, has been discovered, making it the oldest known representative of its kind.
This gorgonopsid, which resembles a medium-sized dog like a husky but with long, sharp fangs, lived during the time when Mallorca was part of the supercontinent Pangaea. The discovery includes various fragments such as a skull, vertebrae, ribs, and a well-preserved femur.
According to researchers, this finding challenges previous timelines regarding the emergence of therapsids, which are crucial ancestors to mammals. The gorgonopsid's saber-like teeth indicate it was a formidable predator of its time.
As scientists continue to study this fossil, it adds a significant piece to the puzzle of our evolutionary history, highlighting the diverse ecological roles played by ancient mammalian relatives long before the age of dinosaurs.