Ancient Marsupials Rewriting Evolution | Science News

Scientists have unearthed fossils of a mysterious, insect-eating marsupial group called Keeunamorphia, revealing Australia’s ancient mammal evolution was far more complex than previously believed. These tiny creatures, which lived in rainforests 18 million years ago and vanished as climates shifted, may be ancestral to today’s carnivorous marsupials. Their unique teeth and genetic ties to modern species suggest a separate evolutionary branch that thrived for millions of years, challenging the idea that marsupials descended from a single ancestor. This discovery hints that Australia once hosted multiple primitive marsupial lineages, with gaps in the fossil record hiding even more surprises. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6d960594a5bc7782