Gliding Jurassic Mammal

Volaticotherium antiquus is no ordinary beast. It is over 150 million years old and was the first mammal to glide over the landscape using its elongated skin folds or "patagium." Discovered from Inner Mongolia and described by Dr. Meng Jin at the American Museum of Natural History, Volaticotherium antiquus is also a very primitive mammal, grouping with such basal mammals as Morganucodon, Sinoconodon and most closely with the Triconodont mammals such as the recently described, but much younger Jeholodens. Volaticotherium antiquus was a small mammal, weighting 70 grams, and with a length of about 12 to 14 cm. It is amazing that this little mammal glided over giant dinosaurs such as the Stegosaurus-like Chialingosaurus.


Meng, J. et al. (2006). A Mesozoic gliding mammal from northeastern China. Nature 444, 889-893 (14 December 2006) | doi:10.1038.