Shedding light on Scotland's first 'almost-mammal,' Saurodesmus robertsoni

Discovered in the early 1840s, Saurodesmus robertsoni is an enigmatic fossil that has puzzled scientists for over two centuries. A recent study by Dr. Tomasz Szczygielski and his team of international researchers has finally shed light on this elusive specimen, identifying it as the oldest known non-mammaliaform cynodont from Scotland and one of the earliest members of the tritylodontids. This discovery is exciting because it provides crucial insights into early mammal evolution and fills a significant gap in the fossil record.