What is Mammaliaformes?
Q: What is Mammaliaformes?
A: Mammaliaformes is a clade that includes the mammals and their closest extinct relatives.
Q: What are the living members of Mammaliaformes?
A: The living members of Mammaliaformes include the monotremes (Monotremata), marsupials (Marsupialia) and the eutherians (Placentalia).
Q: What is unique about the molar teeth of Mammaliaformes?
A: The molar teeth of Mammaliaformes are highly specialized with cusps and flat regions for grinding food.
Q: How many sets of teeth do mammals have?
A: Mammals have one set of baby teeth and one set of adult teeth that fit together precisely.
Q: What are some of the characteristics that characterize Mammaliaformes?
A: Mammaliaformes have lactation (milk) and fur along with other features.
Q: Why are lactation and fur difficult to study in the fossil record?
A: Lactation and fur are difficult to study in the fossil record because they do not fossilize well.
Q: What is the exception to the difficulty in studying lactation and fur in the fossil record?
A: The fossilized remain of Castorocauda lutrasimilis are an exception as they are well preserved and have fur and milk glands.
