A 72-million-year-old fossil found near the Utah-Colorado border has led to the discovery of a new prehistoric mammal species. Named "Heleocola piceanus," this muskrat-sized creature lived in a lush, swampy environment during the late Cretaceous period.
On Thursday, Carter Williams wrote this article for KSL.com. He works for KSL.com as an award-winning reporter.
Palaeontologists from the University of Colorado and other institutions identified the species from fossilised teeth and a jaw fragment collected in 2016. Initially overlooked, the fossils were recognised by a volunteer in 2018.
Jaelyn Eberle, a geological sciences professor, noted that mammal fossils from this era are rare, making this discovery significant. The jaw fragment, featuring unusually large teeth, suggested the mammal weighed at least two pounds and was related to modern marsupials.
Researchers named it "Heleocola," meaning "swamp dweller," due to its habitat. This finding enhances our understanding of the ancient ecosystems that once thrived in the region.
