azoricus

Azoricus is a genus of small, extinct mammals that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 72 million years ago. The genus is known from a single species, Azoricus vireti, which was discovered in the Azores, a group of volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. The fossils of Azoricus were found in volcanic ash deposits, indicating that the animal was likely killed by a volcanic eruption.

Azoricus was a small, rodent-like mammal, with a body length of about 10 centimeters (4 inches). It had a long, slender snout, small eyes, and a tail that was about half the length of its body. The teeth of Azoricus were adapted for a diet of insects and small vertebrates, and it likely fed on the abundant insect life found on the volcanic islands.

The discovery of Azoricus provides important insights into the early evolution of mammals. It is one of the earliest known mammals to have evolved in the Northern Hemisphere, and its fossil record helps to fill in gaps in our understanding of the evolution of mammals in the Cretaceous period. The genus is also notable for its unique adaptations to the volcanic environment of the Azores, which may have influenced its evolution and survival.

Despite its small size and relatively short fossil record, Azoricus is an important contribution to our understanding of the diversity and evolution of mammals in the Cretaceous period. Its discovery highlights the importance of studying the fossil record in remote and understudied regions, such as the Azores, and the potential for new discoveries to shed light on the early evolution of mammals.