Mammals and their extinct relatives are called Synapsids, named after the bony opening behind the eye. (synapsid opening). During the Synapsid evolution, typical mammal features such as fur, a warm blooded metabolism, and a lower jaw that consists of a single bone, started to appear. It was during the Triassic that true mammals evolved. The earliest members of the three living groups, the egg-laying monotremes, the pouched marsupials, and the placentals; all appeared in the early Cretaceous period.
EARLY SYNAPSIDS
These include the mammal-like reptiles and their descendants the mammals. Synapsids appeared in the Carboniferous period and formed a separate group from true reptiles, who gave rise to lizards, dinosaurs and their relatives. Like living reptiles, early Synapsids were scaly and cold-blooded.
EDAPHOSAURUSSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 3 m long DIET: (Herbivore) Plants HABITAT: Arid plains DESTINATION FOUND: North America, Europe TIME: Late Carboniferous - Early Permian periods
TERRIBLE HEADSSCIENTIFIC NAME: Estemmenosuchus SIZE: 3 m long DIET: Horsetails, ferns, small animals HABITAT: Subtropical lakeside forests DESTINATION FOUND: Russia TIME: Mid Permian period
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TWO TYPES OF TEETHSCIENTIFIC NAME: Dimetrodon SIZE: 3.5 m long DIET: (Carnivore) Meat HABITAT: Semi-desert DESTINATION FOUND: North America, Europe TIME: Early Permian period
TWO DOG TEETHSCIENTIFIC NAME: Sinokannemeyeria SIZE: 3 m long DIET: Fibrous plants HABITAT: Woodlands near lakes and rivers DESTINATION FOUND: China TIME: Early Triassic period
TRIDENT TOOTHSCIENTIFIC NAME: Thrinaxodon SIZE: 50 cm long DIET: Small animals HABITAT: Arid plains DESTINATION FOUND: South America, Antarctica TIME: Early Triassic period
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THE FIRST MAMMALS
Mammals are warm-blooded, backboned animals whose females have glands that produce milk to feed their young. All mammals evolved from their relatives, the therapsids. The first mammal-like creature's were shrew-like animals that shared the same types of jawbones. However, scientists do not classify these early types of mammals into the three main groups- the monotremes, marsupials and placentals- that modern animals are placed in today.
MORGAN'S TOOTHSCIENTIFIC NAME: Morganucodon SIZE: 10 cm long DIET: Insects and worms HABITAT: Forest DESTINATION FOUND: Western Europe and East Asia TIME: Early Jurassic period
THYLACOSMILUSSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 1.3 m long DIET: (Meat) mammals, marsupials HABITAT: Grasslands, open woodlands DESTINATION FOUND: Argentina TIME: Miocene and Pliocene periods
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DIPROTODONSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 3 m long DIET: Shrubs and bushes HABITAT: Scrubland, open woodland DESTINATION FOUND: Australia TIME: Pleistocene period
MEGATHERIUMSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 6 m long DIET: Leaves and twigs HABITAT: Wooded grasslands DESTINATION FOUND: South America TIME: Pliocene and Pleistocene periods
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PLACENTAL'S
This group of mammal's young developed inside their bodies. Nearly all living mammals are classified as placentals, except for the monotremes which lay eggs. The Placentals evolved rapidly at the end of the Cretaceous period when the dinosaurs were becoming extinct.
PANTODONTSSCIENTIFIC NAME: Coryphodon SIZE: 2 m long DIET: (Herbivore) Plants HABITAT: Swamps DESTINATION FOUND: Northern Hemisphere TIME: Palaeocene and Eocene periods
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ZALAMBDALESTES
SCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 20 cm long DIET: Insects HABITAT: Scrubland and deserts DESTINATION FOUND: Mongolia TIME: Late Cretaceous periods
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CATS AND OTHER FELIFORMES
Feliforms including cats, emerged during the Eocene. While some feliforms became large predators in open environments, others retained the forest-dwelling lifestyle. The earliest cats appeared in the Oligocene of Europe, and sabre-toothed cats evolved early in the Miocene.
TERRIBLE CATSCIENTIFIC NAME: Dinofelis SIZE: 2.2 m long DIET: Deer, antelope, apes, mammals HABITAT: Woodlands DESTINATION FOUND: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America TIME: Pliocene and Pleistocene periods
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SABRE-TOOTHED CATSSCIENTIFIC NAME: Smilodon SIZE: 1.7 - 2.5 m long DIET: Large mammals HABITAT: Grasslands DESTINATION FOUND: North and South America TIME: Pleistocene period
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DOGS AND OTHER CANIFORMS
Caniforms, a group that includes dogs, bears and seals evolved in the Eocene. Dogs were the earliest caniforms to appear. The earliest dogs had tree-climbing and ground-dwelling abilities. New types of caniforms including weasels, raccoons and bears evolved much later in the Eocene.
DIRE WOLFSCIENTIFIC NAME: Canis Dirus SIZE: 2 m long DIET: Large animals, fruits and nuts HABITAT: Grasslands and woodlands DESTINATION FOUND: North and South America TIME: Pleistocene period
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HESPEROCYONSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 2 m long DIET: (Carnivore) Meat, Large animals HABITAT: Grasslands and woodlands DESTINATION FOUND: North America TIME: Late Eocene period
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INSECTIVORES AND BATS
Moles, hedgehogs, shrews and other insectivores first appeared in the Eocene, sharing distinctive snout muscles and skull bones.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 40 cm long DIET: Flying insects HABITAT: Forests, caves, riverbanks DESTINATION FOUND: North America TIME: Eocene period
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ICARONYCTERIS |
BIG BEASTS
BRONTOPSSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 5 m long DIET: Leaves HABITAT: Open woodland DESTINATION FOUND: North America TIME: Eocene
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PARACERATHERIUMSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 9 m long DIET: Leaves and twigs HABITAT: Open woodlands DESTINATION FOUND: Europe, Asia TIME: Oligocene and Miocene periods
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MAMMOTHSSCIENTIFIC NAME: Mammuthus primigenius SIZE: 3.3 m long DIET: Leaves, grasses and plants HABITAT: Woodlands and grasslands DESTINATION FOUND: North America, Europe, Asia TIME: Pleistocene to about 4,000 years ago
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ELEPHANTSCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: Varies DIET: Leaves, grasses, plants HABITAT: Grasslands DESTINATION FOUND: Africa, Asia, America TIME: Quaternary
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BIG LLAMASCIENTIFIC NAME: Macrauchenia SIZE: 3 m long DIET: Leaves, grasses, HABITAT: Grasslands DESTINATION FOUND: South America TIME: Pleistocene
HIGH CAMELSCIENTIFIC NAME: Aepycamelus SIZE: 2 m tall at shoulders DIET: Leaves HABITAT: Woodland, grassland DESTINATION FOUND: North America TIME: Miocene period
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UINTAH BEASTSCIENTIFIC NAME: Uintatherium SIZE: 3.5 m long, 90 cm tall DIET: Leaves, fruits, water plants HABITAT: Forests DESTINATION FOUND: North America TIME: Eocene period
URANOTHERESSCIENTIFIC NAME: Arsinoitherium SIZE: 3.5 m long DIET: Leaves, stems HABITAT: Woodland, wooded grassland DESTINATION FOUND: Egypt, Asia TIME: Eocene period
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WHALES
Living whales are fish-shaped, with flipper-like forelimbs, no hind legs and powerful fluked tails for propelling them through the water. However, the earlier Eocene whales were much different as some had large hind limbs and could still probably move on land. By the end of the Eocene, fully aquatic whales had evolved.
BASILOSAURUS (EARLY)SCIENTIFIC NAME: N/A SIZE: 20 - 25 m long DIET: Other marine mammals and fish HABITAT: Shallow tropical seas DESTINATION FOUND: North America, North Africa, South Asia TIME: Eocene period
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BLUE WHALE (NOW DAYS)SCIENTIFIC NAME: B. Musculus SIZE: 25 - 30 m long DIET: Krill HABITAT: Oceans DESTINATION FOUND: Worldwide TIME: Quaternary (now)
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MONKEYS
THE RISE OF HOMO SPECIES
Humans belong to a genus of Hominid called Homo, which evolved from an advanced species of Australopithecus apes. One of the most primitive members of the Homo genus is the famous Homo erectus (meaning upright person).
AUSTRALOPITHECINESIn 1952, the group of African apes including the ancestors of modern humans were first discovered. The australopithecines groups contains about ten different species of ape. Some had human-like skulls but chimp-like bodies while others had chimp-like skulls with human bodies.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Australopithecus Afarenis SIZE: 1 m long DIET: Leaves, fruit, carrion, animals HABITAT: Open woodland, wooded grassland DESTINATION FOUND: Eastern Africa TIME: Pleistocene Period |
WORK PERSON (EARLY)SCIENTIFIC NAME: Homo ergaster SIZE: 1.8 m long DIET: Carrion, small animals, fruits HABITAT: Tropical grasslands DESTINATION FOUND: Eastern Africa TIME: Pleistocene Period
The homo ergaster species had larger teeth and more powerful jaw and neck muscles than modern humans. The best known Homo ergaster specimen is "Turkana Boy", who is one of the most complete of all fossil hominids. |
NEANDERTHALSThe Neanderthals are the most famous of fossil hominids and are often characterised as Ice Age 'cave people'. They invented tools and made fire, most definitely had some form of language and may have lived in family groups. Neanderthals were stocky with massive, thick-walled, heavily muscled bones. The stocky nature of their skeletons, tells us that this species were built for life in cold environments. They may have used clothing, however we cannot be certain. Also, because they lived in cold environments, their skin may have been light coloured as they did not need dark skin to protect them from the sun.
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SCIENTIFIC NAME: Homo neanderthalensis SIZE: 1.7 m long DIET: Carrion, animals, fruits, nuts, berries HABITAT: Open woodland DESTINATION FOUND: Europe, Asia and Africa TIME: Pleistocene Period
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HOMO SAPIENSModern humans (homo sapiens) are the most successful species of all large-bodied mammals, inhabiting every habitat on every continent. Homo sapiens are an African species that evolved from Homo heidelbergensis or similar species around 200,000 years ago. Homo sapiens reached Europe at least 40,000 years ago. Around 10,000 years ago Homo sapiens began to domesticate plants and animals and developed farming. Having continual supplies of food allowed humans even more time to developed culturally.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Homo sapiens SIZE: Various sizes DIET: Various diets HABITAT: Worldwide DESTINATION FOUND: Worldwide TIME: Quaternary (now) |