Origins and Earliest Evolution of Mammals                         return to Zhe-Xi Luo's main page

Recent Review:
Luo, Z.-X. 2007. Transformation and diversification in early mammal evolution. Nature 450: 1011-1019. E-print (2.8 Mb PDF)

Evolution of mammals from the pre-mammalian cynodont ancestors is one of the most important transitions in vertebrate evolutionary history. Mammals have many biological adaptations that are correlated with osteological and dental features in the transitional fossils. Dr. Luo’s research focuses on the pattern of evolution of skull, skeletal and dental structures that underwent fundamental changes through the transition from pre-mammalian cynodonts to modern mammals, by mapping the precursory character states for mammalian evolutionary apomorphies among mammaliaforms that are phylogenetically between the pre-mammalian cynodonts and the modern mammals. These morphological studies have addressed issues of evolution of the definitive mammalian middle ear (Fig. 1) and inner ear (Fig. 2) (Refs: 1, 2, 3, 4); evolution of mammalian molar structures (Fig. 3) and their dental replacement and growth patterns (Refs: 5, 6, 7, 8); and evolution of the mammaliaform brain endocast features.

Selected Recent References:

(1) Luo, Z.-X., P.-J. Chen, G. Li and M. Chen. 2007. A new eutriconodont mammal and evolutionary development of early mammals. Nature 446: 288-293. Click for E-print (1.5 Mb PDF). (supporting online material available via Nature Web site)