One ancient swimming mammal fossil and two evolutionary surprises, including a third set of teeth

October 7, 2026 · 7:59 pm 2 sources

Image: NPR

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Wires & papers of record

• This surprising mammal fossil is giving scientists something to chew on
  NPR · October 7, 2026 19:59
  It's likely you've already chewed and swallowed some tasty morsel today. But when did that ability emerge? New evidence points to at least the middle Jurassic, back when dinosaurs still reigned.

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• One ancient swimming mammal fossil and two evolutionary surprises, including a third set of teeth
  Phys.org · October 8, 2026 17:00
  What may have looked like a cross between a platypus and a beaverlike rodent and lived around 120 million years ago? Dongoconodon platycauda, a newly discovered fossil mammal from northeastern China. Beyond its unusual features, such as evidence of webbed paddling feet and a rudderlike tail, this…