Loukussa

Loukussa is an extinct genus of early mammals that lived during the Jurassic period, around 163 to 155 million years ago. Fossil records indicate that they inhabited the area now known as Africa, specifically the regions of Africa that were then part of the supercontinent of Gondwana.

Loukussa fossils have been found in the Lambert Formation, a geological formation located in Lesotho, South Africa. The genus was first described in 1963 by paleontologist Wann Langston Jr. Since then, several specimens have been recovered, including skulls, jaws, and limb bones.

Physical analysis of Loukussa fossil remains reveals that they were likely herbivores, with characteristics typical of early mammalian grazers. Their dental structure, consisting of multiple sets of teeth, allowed for efficient grinding of plant material. Limb proportions suggest that they may have been quadrupedal, with some specimens exhibiting likely adaptations for ground dwelling.

Phylogenetic analysis places Loukussa within the sufficient order of Tritylodontomorpha, a group of early mammal-like reptiles that also include the related tritylodontoids and tritestrodoni. However, the exact relationship between Loukussa and its closest relatives remains subject to ongoing scientific research and debate.

The discovery of Loukussa contributes significantly to our understanding of early mammalian evolution, helping to fill the period between the Triassic and Cretaceous eras when many other iconic mammalian lineages originated. Its presence in Africa during the Jurassic further supports the continent's historical diversification and mammalian significant biodiversity.