The first aquatic mammals evolved while dinosaurs still roamed the Earth. The evidence comes from several broad, flat vertebrae that resemble the tail bones of modern beavers and platypuses. Nick Longrich of the University of Calgary, who found the bones in a fossil collection held by the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta, thinks they belong to water-going stagodonts, a group of marsupials that died out alongside the dinosaurs.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Life
Hard but lightweight ‘bio-metal’ material discovered in sea worm jaws
News
Life
A worm that lived half a billion years ago preferred turning right
News
Life
Chris Packham: ‘I’d throw myself in front of a T. Rex to be consumed’
Culture
Life
Bumblebee facial movements give clues to their inner lives
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles