Madagascar’s Crazy Beast
Earlier this year, scientists discovered the remains of a strange mammal that lived with the mighty dinosaurs in what is now Madagascar about 66 million years ago.
A recent study showed that the possum-sized mammal broke the rules of evolution that applied to other mammalian creatures during that period, Sky News reported.
It was surprisingly large unlike other mammals of its time, which were believed to be about the size of mice. The research team noted that the animal would have burrowed to hunt for food and to avoid getting stomped by big dinos.
The creature also had notable physical features, including more trunk vertebrae in the spinal area, and muscular hind limbs that were placed in sprawling position – similar to that of crocodiles.
The team added that it also had front teeth combined with back teeth which were “completely unlike those of any other known mammal, living or extinct.”
These bizarre features prompted the authors to aptly name the creature Adalatherium hui – which in Madagascar’s language, Malagasy, and Greek translates to “crazy beast.”
The researchers concluded that strange traits could be a product of living on an island.
“Islands are the stuff of weirdness,” said lead author David Krause, “and there was therefore ample time for Adalatherium to develop its many extraordinarily peculiar features in isolation.”
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