Title: New Study Suggests Placental Mammals Coexisted With Dinosaurs
Date: June 27, 20XX
Scientists have long debated whether early forms of humans existed before the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs, but a groundbreaking study, published in the peer-reviewed academic journal Current Biology, may finally settle the debate.
Using statistical analysis of fossils, researchers have examined whether placental mammals lived prior to the dinosaurs’ extinctions. Fossils of placental mammals have been discovered in rocks dating back less than 66 million years, coinciding with the mass extinction triggered by an asteroid impact. Based on this evidence, the researchers propose that placental mammals emerged and evolved after this catastrophic event.
Interestingly, some fossils have been found that pre-date the asteroid impact, suggesting that placental mammals coexisted with dinosaurs and experienced diversification and evolution in the aftermath of the asteroid event.
The study indicates that primates, including human ancestors, rabbits, hares, dogs, and cats, were shown to have evolved just before the mass extinction, implying that these human-like ancestors once coexisted with dinosaurs. After surviving the asteroid impact, placental mammals, including humans, proliferated and evolved, likely benefiting from reduced competition with the extinct dinosaurs.
Commenting on the study, researcher Emily Carlisle from the University of Bristol’s School of Earth Sciences stated, “We pulled together thousands of fossils of placental mammals and were able to see the patterns of origination and extinction of the different groups. Based on this, we could estimate when placental mammals evolved.”
Daniele Silvestro, another researcher from the University of Fribourg, explained, “The model we used estimates origination ages based on when lineages first appear in the fossil record and the pattern of species diversity through time for the lineage. It can also estimate extinction ages based on last appearances when the group is extinct.”
Professor Phil Donoghue from the University of Bristol added, “By examining both origins and extinctions, we can more clearly see the impact of events such as the K-Pg mass extinction or the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM).”
This study provides valuable insights into the history of placental mammals and their coexistence with dinosaurs, shedding light on the evolutionary development of human ancestors. Further research is expected to expand our understanding of prehistoric life, highlighting the intricate dynamics between different species throughout Earth’s history.
Image: A girl rides on a dinosaur statue during Children’s Day celebration at a department store in Bangkok, Thailand, January 14, 2023. (Courtesy of ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA / REUTERS)