Laurasiatheria

Laurasiatheria, meaning "Lurasian beasts," is a special group of mammals called a superorder. It includes many types of animals we know, like true insectivores, bats, carnivores such as dogs and cats, pangolins, even-toed ungulates like cows and pigs, and odd-toed ungulates like horses. Scientists discovered this group by looking at the similar gene sequences these animals share.

Even though these animals look very different, they are connected through their DNA. This group originated on the northern supercontinent called Laurasia after it split from another landmass named Gondwana millions of years ago. The last common ancestor of all Laurasiatheria lived between about 76 to 90 million years ago. Scientists use special tools to study these connections, looking at DNA and certain genetic markers to understand how these animals are related.

Etymology

The name "Laurasiatheria" comes from the idea that these mammals started on a very old landmass called Laurasia. There were also other ancient mammals called Gondwanatheria that lived on another landmass named Gondwana.

Classification and phylogeny

Scientists are still figuring out the exact family tree of laurasiatherians, which includes animals like bats, carnivores, and hoofed mammals. For a long time, bats were thought to belong with primates and other climbing animals. But newer genetic studies show that bats are actually more closely related to other laurasiatherians. These studies also suggest that bats, pangolins, carnivores, and euungulates share a common ancestor, and that insect-eating mammals might be the closest relatives to all other laurasiatherians.

The family tree of laurasiatherians has been studied using DNA, proteins, and fossil evidence.