66 myo mammal likely ancestor of all living mammals (including humans)

[TheOldSchool]

Scientists Say This Rat Was Your Great-Great-Great-Great-(...)-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandmother

our common ancestor rose from the ashes of the extinct dinosaurs and took over the planet.

Literally. According to their research, every other mammal who lived at the time of the great dinosaurs died with them—about 39 mammalian lineages. Only the Protungulatum donnae, the Placentalia lineage, survived the catastrophe along with some reptiles. This furry thing is where we all started.

We can all thank this little rat animal, who survived the dinosaurs and apocalypse, for letting us all become what we are today. Interesting article.