h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Mammals are pretty cool, but not without drawbacks. I detect some vulnerability to neurosis when the young are weaned before they're emotionally ready for it. Oh, well.

Hi! I actually forgot in the article to say that Megazostrodon and the very first true mammals, likely already nursed their babies with milk! They likely had mammary glands but not real nipples, just openings from which the milk oozed out.

Yeah I guess we mammals are unfortunately prone to various neuroses!

Anyways. Do you realize I've given the pre-mammals a more comprehensive and illustrated treatment in these articles than is currently available in any book? But I've actually left a few things out … there's not enough on the very oldest pre-mammals and a few noteworthy ones in between have fallen through the cracks like Euchambersia which was 'rumoured' to have been venomous ….

I think that your work is of the highest quality, and deserves all the praise it can get. All you need is some way to -- er -- milk it.

Hi Paulh very much thanks for that vote of confidence! I'm going to try making a book out of this, basically about the prehistory of mammals. I'm still going to do lots of pics and articles of 'true' prehistoric mammals for h2g2 as well.

I look forward to that. Your latest ones have been cute and furry

The rabbit in my yard was peacefully sunbathing in my garden today. That's okay for now, when I'm not trying to grow veggies. This summer, I will work out something to keep my veggies safe from bunny teeth marks.