Projects

The Birth of Mammals

This project makes use of new fossil material from Scotland, and the latest techniques in digital palaeo-histology, to pinpoint the origin of live birth in mammals for the first time. 

Last updated: 22 June 2026

About the project

This project makes use of new fossil material from Scotland, and the latest techniques in digital palaeo-histology, to pinpoint the origin of live birth in mammals for the first time. Most mammals today give birth to live young, apart from the monotremes (platypus and echidnas), which lay eggs. The patterns of growth in different types of mammal reflect their birth and growth, and these patterns are visible in the microscopic structures of their bones.

This project will identify patterns in mammal bone structures that are tied to their mode of birthing and raising their young, and use these to examine the fossil record. By doing so, it will be possible to understand when and how live-birth arose in mammals from their egg-laying ancestors.

Project title

The Birth of Mammals

Project active

2025 - 2030

Research theme

Scotland's Material and Natural Heritage

Contributors

Dr Elsa Panciroli – Principal Investigator – National Museums Scotland

Dr Lucas Weaver – University of Michigan

Dr Elis Newham – Queen Mary University of London

Publications

Panciroli, E., Benson, R.B., Fernandez, V., Fraser, N.C., Humpage, M., Luo, Z.X. and Walsh, S. 2024. Jurassic fossil juvenile reveals prolonged life history in early mammals. Nature 632: 815–812. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07733-1   

Panciroli, E., Benson, R.B.J., Fernandez, V., Butler, R.J., Fraser, N.C., Luo, Z.-X. and Walsh, S. 2021. New species of mammaliaform and the cranium of Borealestes (Mammaliformes: Docodonta) from the Middle Jurassic of the British Isles. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society  192: 1323–1362. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa144

Project contact

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