Early mammals - Welsh fissure collection

Early mammals are generally rare in the fossil record, but the Welsh Fissures Collection is an exception. It contains thousands of bones of early mammal-like creatures found in Wales.

These Jurassic-age animals gives palaeontologists an unprecedented insight into the early evolution of this immensely successful group.

One species, Morganucodon is known from almost 10,000 specimens, making it one of the best studied early mammals.

Museum scientists are now using synchrotron technology to learn more about the Welsh Fissure specimens and improve our understanding of early mammal evolution.