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The Mammal Age Dawns
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What happens when most of the animal groups of the world become extinct at the same time? Nature tries again.
This happened after all the dinosaurs and all sorts of other creatures vanished at the end of the Cretaceous period. Why they suddenly died out is a mystery, but we know that immediately afterward, the mammals took over. The mammals had evolved from the mammal-like reptiles but had remained as tiny, mouselike animals throughout the age of the dinosaurs.
(A) THE NEW COAL FORESTS
The forests of the early Tertiary period formed the brown coal deposits of Germany.
(B) FLYING MAMMALS
Bats evolved to take the place of the pterosaurs.
(C) HUNTERS
Meat-eating mammals fed on the wide variety of plant eaters.
(D) ODDITIES
Some mammals were quite unlike any animals today. It is as if new designs were being tried out.
(E) ANTEATERS
Insects were common, and soon mammals evolved that fed on them.
(F) PLANT EATERS
Piglike mammals rooted through the undergrowth.
(G) HEDGEHOGS
Some animals had armour to protect themselves from meat eaters.
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Previous:
Back
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Book:
Prehistoric Life
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Section:
Prehistoric
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Chapter:
The Mammal Age Dawns
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