A groundbreaking study using X-ray imaging reveals the intricate growth patterns of early mammals during the Jurassic period, offering unprecedented insights into their life cycles and evolutionary history.
A pioneering study recently published in Science Advances sheds light on the life history of early mammals from the Jurassic period. By employing a cutting-edge technique known as synchrotron X-ray tomography, researchers have unraveled the growth patterns, lifespans and sexual maturity timelines of these ancient creatures.
“This is the first time we’ve been able to reconstruct the growth patterns of these early mammals in such detail,” Elis Newham, the study’s first author and a postdoctoral research associate at Queen Mary University of London and Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow at the University of Bonn, said in a news release. “By studying the spacing and texture of these growth rings, we can not only tell how fast they grew at different stages of life, but also make inferences about their metabolism and overall life history.”
The study, which challenges longstanding assumptions about mammalian ancestors’ growth patterns, has revealed that the origins of modern mammal growth traits began around 130 million years ago. This timeline aligns with the emergence of the earliest true mammals, contrasting with slower growth rates and extended lifespans seen in earlier mammaliaforms.
“This data suggests that while living small-bodied mammals are sexually mature within months from birth, the earliest mammals took several years to reach sexual maturity, corroborating recent findings for one of our studied animals, Krusatodon,” co-author Pam Gill, a scientific associate at the Natural History Museum London and University of Bristol, said in the news release.
The research utilized synchrotron X-ray tomography to scan microscopic growth rings in fossilized tooth roots, akin to tree rings but on a much smaller scale. These analyses have enabled scientists to reconstruct the life history traits of these long-extinct creatures with remarkable precision.
“This study is a great example of how new technologies are revolutionizing our understanding of the deep past,” added Thomas Martin, chair of paleontology at the University of Bonn and senior co-author of the study. “By peering into these fossilized teeth, we can gain valuable insights into the lives of creatures that lived millions of years ago.”
The collective efforts of an international team from institutions including Queen Mary University of London, University of Bonn, Natural History Museum London and nine other prestigious organizations, have made this groundbreaking work possible. Their research underscores a critical evolutionary juncture during the Jurassic period, indicating that high metabolic rates and extended parental care in mammals evolved gradually over millions of years.
This novel insight not only enriches our understanding of mammalian evolution but also highlights the transformative potential of advanced imaging technologies in paleontology. The findings from this study could pave the way for further discoveries about the complex life histories of our ancient ancestors.