Conference by Pierre-Olivier Antoine & Lionel Hautier "The Epic of Mammals"

As part of the first cycle of conferences Agora des Savoirs 2026-2027.

Dinosaurs often dominate our imagination, but the history of mammals is no less spectacular. From Jurassic mammaliaforms resembling shrews to the gigantic basilosauruses, rivaling the size of our current blue whales, not to mention the dog-bears and the ancestors of the platypus, these extinct species have left a lasting mark on life on Earth.

Pierre-Olivier Antoine and Lionel Hautier trace the evolution of this group with extraordinary characteristics over nearly 300 million years. Rodents, marsupials, multituberculates, and primates share the spotlight in this long epic. Capable of moving on land, in water, and in the air, mammals have adapted to all regions of the world. They feed on plants, insects, other mammals, and sometimes even dinosaurs!

Mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, and other extinct giants even accompanied the first steps of humanity, reminding us that our own history is intertwined with theirs.

Free entry, subject to availability.

Authors' Biography

Pierre-Olivier Antoine is a paleontologist at the Institute of Evolutionary Sciences (ISEM) and a professor at the University of Montpellier. A specialist in fossil rhinoceroses, he also works on the evolution of ancient ecosystems in South America and the Caribbean. He has participated in numerous expeditions around the globe and has served as a scientific advisor for several documentaries.

Lionel Hautier is a paleontologist at the Institute of Evolutionary Sciences in Montpellier and a research director at CNRS. A specialist in the evolution of mammals, particularly rodents and xenarthrans, his work focuses on their anatomical variations across different time scales, from embryonic development to the fossil record.

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