According to many geologists, a meteorite collided with the earth 65 million years ago, which killed all the dinosaurs of that time. According to evolutionary scientists, mammals then survived in the form of rodents that lived underground.
All other mammals evolved from these rodents. But it is worth noting here that many dinosaurs were also small in size. Apart from this, flying dinosaurs (Pterosaurs) and fish-like dinosaurs (Ichthyosaurs) also existed at that time.
Then what is the reason that at that time the ancestors of birds survived but the flying dinosaurs disappeared. Did the ancestors of birds also live underground? Similarly, fishes survived the crash but all fish-like dinosaurs died.
Did fish also live underground?
These are the questions that have not been answered till date. That’s why some experts say that the meteor thing is wrong. A disease wiped out the dinosaurs. But till date there is no example of such a disease which has wiped out so many species.
Aftermath of this devastation, some tiny survivors emerged from the underground depths. Evolutionary scientists suggest that mammals, particularly the ancestors of modern rodents, played a crucial role in repopulating the planet. These small, adaptable creatures had the advantage of burrowing underground, allowing them to find shelter from the post-apocalyptic surface conditions.
The underground environment provided rodents with protection from the harsh climate, predators, and scarce resources. Over time, they evolved and diversified, taking advantage of the ecological niches left vacant by the extinct dinosaurs. This gave rise to a variety of rodent species, many of which would later evolve into larger mammals.
One of the key factors in their survival was their ability to reproduce quickly and in large numbers. This allowed them to adapt to changing environments more rapidly than larger, slower-breeding species. Their omnivorous diets also played a role, as they could scavenge for a wide range of food sources.
As millions of years passed, these small, unassuming creatures underwent remarkable evolutionary transformations. Some evolved into herbivores, while others adapted to become carnivorous predators. This diversification ultimately paved the way for the rise of mammals as the dominant terrestrial animals on Earth.
The story of how rodents thrived after the dinosaur extinction event is a testament to the incredible resilience and adaptability of life on our planet. These unassuming creatures, once relegated to the shadows of the mighty dinosaurs, eventually took center stage in the evolutionary drama of life on Earth.