Name:
Eozostrodon (Greek for "early girdle tooth"); pronounced EE-oh-ZO-struh-don
Habitat:
Woodlands of Western Europe
Historical Period:
Late Triassic-Early Jurassic (210-190 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 5 inches long and a few ounces
Diet:
Insects
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Long, sleek body; short legs
About Eozostrodon:
If Eozostrodon was a true mammal--and that's still a matter of some debate--then it was one of the earliest to have evolved from the therapsids ("mammal-like reptiles") of the Triassic period. This tiny beast was distinguished by its complex, three-cusped molars, its relatively large eyes (which indicate that it may have hunted at night) and its weasel-like body; like all early mammals, it probably lived in trees, so as not to get squashed by careless dinosaurs. It's still unclear whether Eozostrodon laid eggs and suckled its young when they hatched (like a modern platypus) or gave birth to live babies.
