Ankle and Foot Bone Evolution Gave Prehistoric Mammals A Leg Up
Published:19 May2021 Source:University of Edinburgh
The evolution of ankle and foot bones into different shapes and sizes helped mammals adapt and thrive after the extinction of the dinosaurs, a study suggests.
A surge of evolution following the mass extinction 66 million years ago enabled mammals to diversify and prosper during a period of major global change, researchers say. Analysis of bones that form part of the ankle and the heel of the foot reveal that mammals during this time -- the Paleocene Period -- were less primitive than previously thought.