Man's common ancestor with other mammals: A rat?

What do humans, elephants, bats, dogs, cats, and whales all have in common? Apparently, this little thing.

Yep. Scientists have zeroed in on a tiny, rat-sized animal that they believe to be the common ancestor of many of today's modern mammals — including us. This furry little critter lived 66 million years ago, scurrying under the feet of big 'ol dinosaurs and subsisting primarily on a diet of insects.

For a long time, scientists have been hunting for "a common genealogical link" between man and beast, and the Protungulatum donna is it, according to The New York Times. The Cretaceous-age animal was first discovered in the Gobi Desert in 1994. In a new study, researchers have identified that several of its anatomical characteristics made it a ripe candidate for humankind's common ancestor with other mammals because it live-birthed its young, and nourished them in utero through a placenta, just like humans, whales, and other aforementioned animals.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

In any case, say hi to your great, great, great, great, great... grand-something. Careful. She bites. (Via the New York Times)