The world's oldest mammal relative has been discovered in Mallorca: here's what it looked like (video, photos).

Not only are traces of primitive cannibalism found in the soil of Europe. A team of paleontologists has discovered a fossilized animal on the territory of modern Mallorca, which lived between 270 and 280 million years ago. This discovery is unique because it is the oldest gorgonopsid on the planet.

"This is the most ancient gorgonopsid on Earth, belonging to the order of saber-toothed animals, which eventually gave rise to mammals," reports the Catalan Institute of Paleontology. Gorgonopsids were warm-blooded, yet they laid eggs. They were carnivorous and were the first animals to have developed characteristic saber-like teeth. They often served as super-predators in the ecosystems they inhabited and resembled dogs, but without ears and fur.

The remains found in Mallorca belong to a small animal, approximately one meter in length. Scientists are amazed by the number of remains, as fragments of the skull, vertebrae, ribs, and femur have been discovered.

The finding of this mammal ancestor on the Balearic Islands is an unusual occurrence. Previously known gorgonopsid remains had been found in Russia and South Africa.

The discovered leg remains have already allowed researchers to understand how the animal moved. This mode of locomotion is intermediate between reptiles and mammals — gorgonopsids had legs positioned more vertically than those of reptiles.

Earlier, "Telegraph" reported on rare mummies found in Egypt. They had golden tongues, and the walls of the tombs were adorned with scenes featuring gods.