Rugilas

Rugilas refers to a genus of extinct mammals that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. Fossil evidence of Rugilas has been found in what is now China. These small, shrew-like creatures are classified within the order Eutriconodonta, a group of early mammals known for their distinctive three-cusped teeth.

The primary fossils attributed to Rugilas consist of jaw fragments and isolated teeth, which have allowed paleontologists to infer its general appearance and diet. It is believed that Rugilas was an insectivore, feeding on small invertebrates. The teeth of Rugilas exhibit a specific arrangement of cusps that helps differentiate it from other related Eutriconodonts.

The discovery of Rugilas contributes to our understanding of mammalian evolution during the Mesozoic Era, a time when dinosaurs dominated the Earth. The presence of diverse Eutriconodonts like Rugilas indicates that mammals were diversifying and occupying various ecological niches even alongside large reptiles. Research on Rugilas and similar fossils helps reconstruct the early mammalian ecosystem and trace the evolutionary lineage of modern mammals.