You dinosaur There was a long reign on the earth. It took about 165 million years to dominate all the continents on the planet, leaving behind traces studied by humans to this day. Even if it weren’t for the meteorite that left a great mark of destruction, it’s possible that they would have survived into modern times.
What little is said, however, is that dinosaurs weren’t the only creatures roaming the world at the time. Curious to know which species shared the same space with these giant creatures? Check out this list we put together of the five most bizarre creatures that lived alongside dinosaurs!
1. Megazostrodon
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)
200 million years ago, a small creature roamed the arid soils of present-day France in the Late Triassic. This animal was called Megazostrodon, a transitional form between the mammalian synodontes and true mammals, but which actually resembled a mouse or a snail.
Megazostrodons are viewed as highly-relevant creatures for understanding mammalian evolution, but their exact place in the family tree of the class remains controversial. Small like that, the preferred diet of these animals were insects that roamed the area.
2. Stenopterygius
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Practically a mix of lizards and fish, ichthyosaurs were a very diverse group of marine reptiles that emerged over 250 million years ago. among them, the one that is the most different is shorthandAn animal similar to a dolphin.
While not a warm-blooded creature, these ichthyosaurs were able to regulate their body temperature to some degree—very relevant for a reptile that swam in the depths of the ocean. According to research, ichthyosaurs became extinct 90 million years ago, 25 million years before non-avian dinosaurs.
3. Castrocauda
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Many animals living on our planet today have evolved from earth-moving ancestors along with dinosaurs. hey Castorocauda lutrasimilisFor example, it is evidence of how nature repeats certain patterns. It was a species that had many of the characteristics of modern beavers, from webbed feet to a flattened tail.
Although castorocuda They had a narrow skull and were equipped with needle-sharp teeth—perfect for fishing. At this point, it can be said that the DNA of these animals also contained a bit of modern-day beavers. Unlike most modern mammals, however, they probably laid eggs and had an avian-like lifestyle. raccoon,
4. Ancient Platypus
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Talking about the platypus, these strange creatures have shown their flair in the past as well. However, they were not exactly as we know them now. Modern platypuses descend from a very ancient lineage, their oldest relative being the . is referred to as tinolophos trasleri,
Although most fossils of these animals are incomplete, everything suggests that the traits that made the platypus such a unique creature began about 120 million years ago.
5. Primates
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)
As dinosaurs roamed the earth, primates He didn’t have much of a dominion role. Soon, it was left to our ancestors to hide in the tops of trees or in holes in the ground. studies indicate that Purgatorius Janise – one of the first primates or direct predecessors – lived 81 million years ago.
However, this species looked like a squirrel and ferret mix, with only flexible ankle and wrist joints. With the extinction of the dinos, primates gained more space to dominate the land and evolve into what we know today.
