Are Pouched Mammals More Evolved Than Humans?
A new study suggests that mammals with pouches, such as kangaroos and koalas, have a more radical evolutionary history than previously thought, indicating that they are "more evolved" than placental mammals like humans. The researchers scanned the skulls of placental mammals and marsupials in various stages of development and concluded that the developmental strategy of placental mammals is closer to that of their common ancestor, suggesting that marsupials have evolved more than placental mammals since the split. The study challenges the historical misconception that marsupials are less successful intermediates.