When did they originate? And what changes have mammals undergone over time? What factors have led to this evolution?
Answer
Dear Selin,
The evolution of mammals began during the Mesozoic Era. That is the geological epoch that lasted from 252 to 66 million years ago when the dinosaurs and other reptiles ruled life on earth. The then mostly small mammals lived in the shadow of these giants. The extinction of the dinosaurs about 66 million years ago was therefore of the utmost importance in making the enormous variety of mammals possible today. The questions you ask are very interesting, but at the same time so comprehensive that you could almost fill an entire course in mammal paleontology. To find some of your answers, I refer you to Wikipedia. There you will find a very concise but up-to-date overview of the knowledge of the evolution of mammals.
Answered by
prof. Robert Speyer
Geology – Paleontology – Paleoclimatology. You study geology in Leuven!
Old Market 13 3000 Leuven
https://www.kuleuven.be/
.