The Freaky Evolution of Mammals: From Reptiles to Us

Long before dinosaurs ruled the Earth, it was the age of therapsids. These oddball creatures showed up around 275 million years ago and completely ran the show during the Permian period. At first glance, you’d swear they were reptiles—scaly skin, sprawling limbs, and some seriously intimidating jaws. But plot twist: they weren’t reptiles at all.

They belonged to a group called synapsids, the ancient forefathers of mammals. Think of them as a mash-up between lizards and something halfway to a furry creature. From the shovel-faced Lystrosaurus to the predator Inostrancevia with its giant saber teeth, therapsids were busy evolving traits we now associate with mammals: specialized teeth, legs positioned under the body, and maybe even fur or whiskers.

Some of them were starting to regulate their body temperature—almost warm-blooded. But when the Earth went through its biggest mass extinction at the end of the Permian, most therapsids didn’t make it. Only a few survived… and from one stubborn little branch, mammals were eventually born.
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