Steropodon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SteropodonTemporal range: Lower Cretaceous
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Steropodon
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| Steropodon galmani |
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Steropodon galmanii was an ancient animal that lived a very long time ago. It was a type of monotreme, which means it was a mammal that laid eggs, just like the modern platypus and echidna. This amazing creature lived during the Mesozoic Era, specifically in the Lower Cretaceous period.
Steropodon is special because it's one of the earliest known relatives of the platypus. The very first known relative is called Teinolophos. Finding fossils of Steropodon helps scientists understand how mammals evolved over millions of years.
Contents
What Was Steropodon?
Steropodon was a small, furry mammal. It was probably about the size of a cat. Scientists believe it might have looked a bit like a platypus. However, we only have a few fossil pieces to go on.
A Mammal That Laid Eggs
Most mammals today give birth to live young. But monotremes are different! They lay eggs, just like birds or reptiles. This makes them very unique among mammals. Steropodon was one of these special egg-laying mammals.
Its Ancient Home
Steropodon lived during the Lower Cretaceous period. This was about 110 million years ago! At that time, the Earth looked very different. The continents were in different places. The climate was also warmer than it is today.
Where Did Steropodon Live?
The only fossils of Steropodon have been found in Australia. This tells us that it lived on the ancient continent of Australia. Back then, Australia was connected to Antarctica. It was part of a supercontinent called Gondwana.
Life in the Cretaceous Period
The Cretaceous period was a time when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. But many other animals also lived then. These included early mammals like Steropodon. There were also many types of plants, insects, and other creatures.
How Do We Know About Steropodon?
Scientists discovered Steropodon from a single fossil. This fossil was a piece of its jawbone. It was found in Lightning Ridge, New South Wales, Australia. This area is famous for its opal mines.
The Importance of a Jawbone
Even a small piece like a jawbone can tell scientists a lot. The shape of the teeth and jaw helps them understand what Steropodon ate. It also shows how it was related to other animals. The jawbone of Steropodon showed it was a very early monotreme.
Images for kids
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The Steropodon jaw on display at the American Museum of Natural History, New York City, USA
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Model of Steropodon galmani at the Australian Museum, Sydney
See also
In Spanish: Esteropodón para niños
