Name:
Morganucodon (Greek for "Glamorgan tooth"); pronounced MORE-gan-oo-CODE-on
Habitat:
Woodlands of Europe, Asia and North America
Historical Period:
Late Triassic (215 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About four inches long and one ounce
Diet:
Insects
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Small size; reptilian jaw
About Morganucodon:
The geological record is littered with transitional forms between therapsids ("mammal-like reptiles") and early mammals, and Morganucodon is among the most common. The remains of this shrew-like creature have been found across the northern hemisphere, and convey the image of a small, skittish critter with an odd mix of mammalian (hair and teeth) and reptilian (lower jaw) characteristics. (By the way, the name Morganucodon is often translated as "Morgan's tooth," but this animal is really named after Glamorgan, the area of Scotland where the first fossil remains were discovered.)
