Chile, Apr 10: Scientists have discovered a fossil of a skunk-like mammal in Chile, which is believed to have coexisted with the dinosaurs between 72 and 74 million years ago. The fossil was discovered in Chilean Patagonia, near Torres del Paine national park. They found the fossilized jawbone with 5 teeth attached to it. Paleontologists analyzed the shape of the teeth and believed it to be a herbivore. This new-found mammal has been named ‘Orretherium tzen’, which means ‘Beast of Five Teeth’. The name is an amalgamation of Greek and a local indigenous language. Sergio Soto, a paleontologist from University of Chile, mentioned that such discoveries would be extremely helpful in understanding the puzzle around the existence of ‘Gondwanatheria’, which is a group of extinct early mammals which cohabited with dinosaurs. This finding shows that southern tip of Chile has lot of potential in knowing about them.
