Industry News: Ankle and foot bone evolution gave prehistoric mammals a leg up
Their findings show that Paleocene mammals had more muscular builds than those from the Cretaceous or present day
13 May 2021
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.