Scientists have uncovered a fossil of a mammal that lived in Madagascar 66 million years ago that is unlike any other mammal ever known. It is a gondwanatherian, from the time when all the continents of the Southern Hemisphere were united, and has been named Adalatherium hui, a combination of words in two languages that means “crazy beast.” How weird was it?
Listen beautiful relax classics on our Youtube channel.
For instance, Adalatherium had more holes on its face than any known mammal, Krause said in a press call Tuesday. These holes, called foramina, created pathways for blood vessels and nerves, leading to an incredibly sensitive snout that was covered in whiskers. It also had a large hole at the top of the snout that can’t be compared to any known mammal that ever lived or is currently living.
Its teeth can’t be compared with anything else either. They’re structured in a strange way that can’t be explained. Krause said its back teeth “are from outer space.”
The animal’s backbone contained more vertebrae than any known mammal from the Mesozoic era. And it must have walked in a strange way, because the front half of the animal doesn’t match the back half. And one of its back legs was bowed.
That’s pretty weird. But there’s more, which you can read at CNN. -via Strange Company
Source: neatorama