#protomammal

[alphynix]

Mammal ancestors laid eggs—and this 250-million-year-old fossil proves it

A remarkable new discovery is shedding light on one of the greatest survival stories in Earth's history, and answering a decades-old scienti

[claire-dat-saurian]

I was thinking about Gorngonopsids earlier, so I drew one, Inostrancevia specifically

[typhlonectes]

What Happened to the Other Mesozoic Mammals?

In 2003, a fossil belonging to a mammaliaform was discovered in an ancient lakebed in what's now China. It was an almost complete skeleton the size of a platypus, a find that complicated the history of mammaliaforms. It painted a picture of their explosive diversification, their mysterious disappearance, and how our own ancestors might have survived thanks to a leg up from some leafy allies. *They weren't /exactly/ mammals...

via: PBS Eons

[saucylobster]

This is a counterpart to my next fakemon and straight away I wanted to use Inostrancevia. Although I had the shape of the creature in mind, I didn't know how to embellish the design. Once I remembered they are Gorgonopsids, that was enough to go on. False eyes and snake-like dreads soon followed. Gorginos were the top predators of their age, although primitive in comparison to today's carnivores. Armoured fronts allowed them to withstand the throes of their prey whilst false eyes could stare down any herd mates that may have otherwise intervened. The scaly tendrils on their heads can rattle and serve allure others of its kind. — Ability Info — — Attack Info —

[ariesalpinesavi]

[nimbusdraws]

Been doing a lot of traditional work lately, trying to get back into the swing of art in general.

I freaking love Dimetrodons! My favorite protomammals! And who doesn’t love a super 90's bowling alley carpet-esk background?

[artbyconnorross]

Suminia! The weird monkey rat that was actually a protomammal! Suminia getmanovi lived approx. 260MYA in western Russia, belonging to the suborder known as the anomodonts. Though Suminia is fairly obscure, it has an even more obscure close cousin, Otsheria. The individual on the left is inferred to be younger, given his color differences. Fun fact: the skeleton of Suminia strongly resembles the primate Darwinius, which wouldn’t evolve for another 110 million years.

[quinncy]

Protomammals

Character: Meringue and Jack-O-Lantern