Looks like they found a 164 million year old platypus-like mammal (minus the bill) that was aquatic and unlike any other mammal we know of from the time period:

 

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/02/23/jurassic.beaver.ap/index.html

It's great that they're fianlly finding relatively large mammals that show such specialization. We're finally getting out of that "all primitive mammals were shrew-like" slump.

I found it wierd that Castorocauda lutrasimilis isn't related to modern beavers and otters. Still an interesting find.

Really it looks and supposedly acts more like the platypus. Anyway, none of those three are closely related yet are relatively similar superficially, another convergence over so many millions of years shouldn't be that wierd at all.

Really it looks and supposedly acts more like the platypus. Anyway, none of those three are closely related yet are relatively similar superficially, another convergence over so many millions of years shouldn't be that wierd at all.

 

Slime sliding, dinosaur egg sucking, rats evolving into AzurePhoenix - I knew it!

aguy2

Really it looks and supposedly acts more like the platypus. Anyway, none of those three are closely related yet are relatively similar superficially, another convergence over so many millions of years shouldn't be that wierd at all.

 

what works once, will probably work again

another convergence over so many millions of years shouldn't be that wierd at all.

 

Yep. Of course, we see convergence between the platypus and the paddlefish as well (certainly much more than we see with a duck, that's for sure!)

Yep. Of course, we see convergence between the platypus and the paddlefish as well (certainly much more than we see with a duck, that's for sure!)

 

Almost like there are 'Platonic' ideal forms, and our structure the result of reverse engineering?

aguy2

I'm so upset! For a minute I thought it would be another Giant Beaver story. I love giant beavers.

Shouldn't this be in the news forum?

 

We need more news.