Scientists discovered a sharp-toothed mammal, Novaculadon mirabilis, from the rodent-like order of multituberculates. The species lived among dinosaurs during the Mesozoic Era and was likely omnivorous with teeth designed for both processing vegetation and meat.
The fossil, found in Dorset, England, showed a complete jawbone with intact teeth, including a robust incisor and premolars. This is the first substantially complete multituberculate jaw found since 1850s. Researchers believe it may have been nocturnal, burrowing underground like modern brown rats.
Novaculadon’s survival past the dinosaur extinction is puzzling, as they were outcompeted by rodents. However, scientists speculate that changing environments or lack of protection for young might be the cause. The discovery provides insight into how these tiny mammals forged an ecological niche and thrived until around 30 million years ago.
The findings showcase a previously unknown species of multituberculates, which lived on nearly every continent and ranged from mouse size to beaver size. Novaculadon mirabilis demonstrates the resilience of these ancient mammals, achieving survival that few others did during the Mesozoic Era.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/science/novaculadon-mammal-fossil.html