釘齒獸
 化石時期： 早始新世 |
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釘齒獸（學名Gomphos）是一屬已滅絕的齧齒動物。牠們生存於5500萬年前始新世早期的中國及蒙古。其模式種是G. elkema。 生物学家在蒙古戈壁发现的一具距今5500万年前的兔子祖先的化石，该种动物以前曾有发现，但如此完整的化石尚是首次发现。
化石的研究者，德国柏林洪堡大学的罗伯特·阿斯教授等人在最新一期《科学》杂志中，对这具标本进行了描述。这种动物名为钉齿兽(Gomphos elkema)，其属名“Gomphos”乃说明该动物牙齿的特征。钉齿兽的标本保存得相当完整，其骨骼与现生的兔子相似，其后腿长度是前腿的两倍以上。但它有一条长长的尾巴；而它的牙齿与其说像兔子，不如说更与松鼠相似。
远古的跳跃者 钉齿兽是现代兔子的古代亲戚
阿斯教授称：钉齿兽与现代的兔类有极为紧密地关系，它的发现有力支持了现代胎盘类动物出现于恐龙灭绝之后的理论。
參考[编辑]
- The Beginning of the Age of Mammals by Kenneth D. Rose
- The Rise of Placental Mammals: Origins and Relationships of the Major Extant Clades by Kenneth D. Rose and J. David Archibald
Biologists in Mongolia Gobi found a 55000000 years ago rabbit fossil ancestors, this kind of animal has previously been found, but such a complete fossil remains are found for the first time.Fossil research, Humboldt University Berlin professor Robert Aas in the latest issue of " science " magazine, the specimens were described. This animal is called spiked beast ( Gomphos elkema ), the genus name " Gomphos " is a description of the animal teeth characteristics. Toothed animal specimens of a perfectly preserved, its skeleton and the rabbit are similar, their hind leg length is more than two times. But it has a long tail; while its teeth much like rabbits and squirrels are similar, not to say.Ancient jump spike is the beast ancient relatives of modern rabbitProfessor Aas said: spiked beast and modern rabbits have extremely close relationship, it found strong support for modern placental animal appeared in the extinction of the dinosaurs after theory.
