(TheRedAlertNews.com) – In the heart of Colorado, two groundbreaking discoveries have unearthed critical insights into mammals that survived and thrived while the dinosaurs walked the Earth.
A recent excavation unveiled not one but two new mammal species from the Late Cretaceous period, reshaping our understanding of these ancient ecosystems.
The findings challenge assumptions and fill a gap in the fossil record that left many questions unanswered.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science uncovered a new mammal species named Militocodon lydae from 65 million years ago.
The fossils, discovered in Corral Bluffs near Colorado Springs, shed light on mammal diversification after dinosaurs perished.
In parallel, researchers found Heleocola piceanus, a swamp-dwelling creature from the age of dinosaurs, in western Colorado.
This opossum-like mammal’s fossils, including a jawbone and molars, date back 70-75 million years.
“Heleocola, which was an ancient opossum-like animal and a distant cousin to today’s marsupials, is important, in part, because the time slice it comes from is not well documented in North America—and we just don’t know a lot about mammals from this time,” Jaelyn Eberle, lead author of the study at the University of Colorado Boulder, told Newsweek.
This new mammal was significantly larger than most mammals of its era, weighing in at about 2 pounds.
The fossils suggest the area, known as Laramidia, featured swamps, marshes, and deltas similar to modern-day Louisiana.
Despite being relatively rare, these mammalian fossils offer an unparalleled glimpse into an age long thought obscured by time.
Denver Museum’s Tyler Lyson, who led the research on the Colorado trove, emphasized their relevance in understanding ecosystem recovery post-mass extinction.
Heleocola piceanus, named for contributors Sharon Milito and Lyda Hill, cohabited with turtles, duck-billed dinosaurs, and giant crocodiles. The research on these species, led by Jaelyn Eberle from CU Boulder, has shifted focus to lesser-documented mammals of the Cretaceous, highlighting their crucial roles in ancient ecosystems.
“We provide the most vivid picture of recovery of an ecosystem on land after any mass extinction,” commented another researcher, Tyler Lyson, cited by The New York Times.
Conclusively, these discoveries underscore Colorado’s significance as a fossil-rich region, attracting researchers worldwide.
🚨 New Discovery! Our team of scientists have identified a new mammal species, Militocodon lydae, from shortly after the dino extinction! Want to learn more? Click the link and check out the story on #Catalyst ! https://t.co/FhiEwSMdRX pic.twitter.com/dB394V9LDP
— Denver Museum (@DenverMuseumNS) August 8, 2024
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