Shrew-like creature was placental mammals’ last common ancestor
by Nicola Davis Science correspondent from Science | The Guardian on (#656DC)
Group's earliest primogenitor was probably a diminutive creature with a long snout, researchers suggest
The last common ancestor of today's placental mammals - a group that includes humans, whales and armadillos - was probably a shrew-like creature with a long snout, researchers have revealed.
The forerunners of mammals are believed to have split from what eventually became reptiles around 320m years ago, but it was not until some time between 70 and 80m years ago that placental mammals arose.
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