Scientists find fossilised 125 million year old remains of rat sized mammal in Spain
Q. Scientists have found fossilised remains of mammal in Spain on 16th October 2014?- Published on 19 Oct 15a. Spinolestes xenarthrosus
b. Prototheria echidnas
c. Sivatherium giganteum
d. Megatapirus augustus
ANSWER: Spinolestes xenarthrosus
Scientists have found fossilised remains of a 125 million year old mammal which is rat sized named Spinolestes xenarthrosus. The fossil found in Spain pushed back the earliest record of preserved mammalian inner organs and hair structures by around 60 million years. This species lived during the Cretaceous period and comprised the extinct lineage of early mammals called triconodonts. Specimen measured 24 cm long and weighs 50-70 grams. The species has remarkable modern mammalian hair and skin structures whereby compound follies in multiple hairs emanate from the same pore. This is also the first example of a Mesozoic mammal whereby soft tissues in abdominal cavities and thoracic area are fossilised.
