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Juramaia sinensis

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description Juramaia sinensis Overview

Juramaia sinensis is an extinct, small-bodied mammal known from a fossil discovered in Liaoning Province, China, and described in 2011. The specimen was assigned to Eutheria, the lineage that includes placental mammals and their extinct relatives, and dated to roughly 160 million years ago in the Late Jurassic. Its classification and geological age have subsequently been debated, so its status as the earliest known eutherian is not universally accepted.

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What makes Juramaia sinensis important for mammal evolution?

Juramaia sinensis was assigned to Eutheria—the broader lineage that includes placental mammals—making it potentially one of the earliest known eutherians. Its discovery pushed the known fossil record of this group back to roughly 160 million years ago, in the Jurassic period.

Where was the Juramaia sinensis fossil found?

The holotype specimen was discovered in Liaoning Province, China, a region famous for its exceptionally preserved Jurassic and Cretaceous fossils. The find was described in the journal Nature in 2011 by a team led by Zhe-Xi Luo.

How old is Juramaia sinensis compared to other early eutherians?

Juramaia is dated to approximately 160 million years ago, placing it in the Late Jurassic. This is roughly 35 million years older than previously known eutherian fossils like Eomaia, which dates to around 125 million years ago.

What did Juramaia sinensis look like?

It was a small, shrew-like mammal, likely weighing only a few grams, with teeth suited for an insectivorous diet. Its skeletal features, including limb proportions, suggest it may have been an agile climber in its forested environment.

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