Chongqing—Recently, Chongqing Yunyang County was astounded by the discovery of a cute, small animal resembling beavers and voles, dating back to approximately 170 million years ago—the Triconodontidae. This significant finding has garnered widespread attention in the field of paleontology.

The research results regarding the "Accompanying Fauna of the Yunyang Dinosaur Fauna Group," involving the Chongqing Bureau of Geology and Minerals Exploration, were published online in the Chinese core journal Journal of Paleogeography. The Triconodontidae studied this time are among the important ancient vertebrates within the Yunyang dinosaur fauna group. The research was collaboratively conducted by the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Natural History Museum of China, and the Chongqing Bureau of Geology and Minerals Exploration.

This diminutive, herbivorous reptile, traversing the epochs from the Triassic to the Cretaceous, bears a remarkable resemblance to modern-day beavers and voles. Despite its apple-sized head, the Triconodontidae boasts a distinctive dental array with three knobs "large teeth," ingeniously evolved for processing coarse plant fibers. The fossils were unearthed near Pu'an Township in Yunyang County, nestled within the Middle Jurassic Lower Member of the Shaximiao Formation of Chongqing. In the same geological layer, the Bashanosaurus primitivus was previously found.

Wang Ping, a researcher at the Chongqing Bureau of Geology and Minerals Exploration, highlighted the discovery's significance, marking it as the most ancient find of its kind within the Sichuan Basin. The unearthed fossils, comprising essential skeletal components such as the skull, mandible, and teeth, underscore Yunyang's pivotal role in ancient biogeographical distribution, elucidating the region's rich ecological and species diversity.

Wang elaborated on the unique behavioral patterns of the Triconodontidae, adept at constructing subterranean burrows, favoring warm and densely vegetated environments, such as lush broadleaf forests and serene river valleys. Their dental architecture, tailored for macerating tough plant matter, showcases their specialized dietary adaptations.

This enlightening research sheds light on the Triconodontidae and furnishes invaluable insights into the Mesozoic era's (Age of Reptiles) ecosystem dynamics. The discovery accentuates Yunyang County's significance in paleobiodiversity and geographical distribution studies. Notably, the Triconodontidae's close kinship with mammals within the Therapsida, the reptilian class's most mammalian lineage, provides critical clues for unraveling mammalian ancestry and evolution. This groundbreaking study enriches the understanding of the Yunyang dinosaur community and its co-inhabitants. It sets a robust foundation for future scholarly pursuits in this vibrant field, charting new courses for paleontological exploration.