Scientists analyzed 322 mammalian skulls. Research shows that the mammals that lived during the dinosaur period were very similar. The ancestors of rodents and the ancestors of elephants also look the same. That is, the diversity among the mammals we see today has emerged in a relatively short period of time.
The results of this study are “invaluable” according to the researchers and can help us understand how past events influenced the evolution of mammals. Furthermore, the results can provide insight into the characteristics of mammals needed to survive climate change.
