ebarahuldavus

Ebarahuldavus is a genus of small, extinct mammals that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 99 to 93 million years ago. Fossils of Ebarahuldavus have been found in the Djadochta Formation of Mongolia, which is known for its rich fossil record of dinosaurs and other mammals. The genus is named after the Ebarahulda Formation, where the first fossils were discovered.

Ebarahuldavus is characterized by its small size, with the largest known species reaching only about the size of a modern-day mouse. It had a relatively long snout, small eyes, and a body covered in fur. The teeth of Ebarahuldavus were adapted for a herbivorous diet, with sharp incisors and grinding molars.

The genus includes two known species: Ebarahuldavus mongoliensis and Ebarahuldavus minor. Ebarahuldavus mongoliensis is the larger of the two species, with a body length of about 10 centimeters, while Ebarahuldavus minor is smaller, with a body length of about 7 centimeters.

Ebarahuldavus is significant in the study of mammalian evolution because it represents one of the earliest known mammals to have developed fur. This adaptation would have helped the animal to regulate its body temperature in the cold environments of the Late Cretaceous. The genus also provides insight into the early diversification of mammals, which occurred during the Cretaceous period.