Lominsans

Lominsans are a group of small, primitive mammals that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 125 to 112 million years ago. They are known from fossil remains found in Europe and North America. Lominsans are characterized by their small size, typically ranging from 10 to 20 centimeters in length, and their primitive features, such as a single lower molar and a reduced number of upper molars. Their teeth suggest a diet of soft plant material, and their small size may have been an adaptation for a niche habitat or a specific feeding strategy.

The name "Lominsan" comes from the genus Lominsania, which was first described by paleontologist Friedrich von Huene in 1926. The type species, Lominsania wimani, was named after the paleontologist who discovered the fossils, William Diller Matthew. Lominsans are considered to be one of the earliest known mammals, and their fossils provide valuable insights into the early evolution of the mammalian order.

Lominsans are classified within the order Multituberculata, a group of mammals that are characterized by their complex tooth structure and the presence of multiple, cone-shaped structures on the roof of their mouth. Multituberculates are thought to have been one of the earliest diverging groups of mammals, and Lominsans are considered to be one of the most primitive members of this group. Despite their primitive features, Lominsans share many similarities with other mammals, such as the presence of a diaphragm and a four-chambered heart, which suggests that they were already well-adapted to a terrestrial lifestyle.