Ancient skeleton reveals new insights on Mixodectes pungens

A study of a 62-million-year-old skeleton called Mixodectes pungens has provided new information about this ancient mammal. The skeleton is one of the most complete examples known and helps scientists understand its anatomy and behavior. Mixodectes, which lived in what is now western North America, was small, weighing about 3 pounds. Researchers believe it lived in trees and primarily ate leaves. This finds the species closely related to humans, primates, and colugos, or flying lemurs. The skeleton was collected in New Mexico and includes parts like a skull, spine, and limbs. Its well-preserved condition has allowed scientists to study its characteristics in detail. These characteristics suggest that Mixodectes could cling to tree trunks and had teeth designed for an omnivorous diet. The research provides insight into how mammals adapted after the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs. Mixodectes was larger than other contemporary tree-dwelling mammals, which may have set it apart in its habitat. While the study clarifies some evolutionary relationships, debates about Mixodectes’s exact position on the evolutionary tree continue. The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.