Mother of Mammals: Meet the Earliest Placental Mammal Ancestor (Infographic)

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Infographic: all about the tiny squirrel sized creature that evolved into you.
This tiny squirrel-sized creature would later evolve into a diversity of mammal species including humans. (Image credit: Karl Tate, Livescience.com contributor)

Scientists have used a new computer-analysis method to figure out in unprecedented detail what the hypothetical ancestor of most mammals would have looked like. About the size of a modern squirrel, the 65-million-year-old ancestor later evolved into most mammals (except those that lay eggs or carry their young in pouches).

A team of scientists analyzed thousands of physical features found in fossils and living mammal species. This information yielded a “family tree” showing that mammals arose following the extinction of the dinosaurs, about 65 million years ago. The study was so detailed, even tiny details were revealed such as the shape of the brain and inner ear bones.

The study showed that the ancestor probably existed about 200,000 to 400,000 years following the event that caused the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs, about 65 million years before today.

The team of scientists used a computer program called MorphoBank to generate about 2,500 anatomical characteristics, or “characters,” to describe the ancient animal. Members of the team located all over the globe collaborated through a website to combine both DNA and morphological data.

Read full story: First Ancestor of All Placental Mammals Revealed

Karl Tate
Karl Tate
LiveScience Infographic Artist
Karl has been Purch's infographics specialist across all editorial properties since 2010.  Before joining Purch, Karl spent 11 years at the New York headquarters of The Associated Press, creating news graphics for use around the world in newspapers and on the web.  He has a degree in graphic design from Louisiana State University.