Jaw membrane in ancient Thrinaxodon may be an early eardrum — English Level A1

Thrinaxodon is an ancient animal from very long ago.
It lived long ago alongside early dinosaurs at times.
It had a thin membrane tucked into jaw crook.
That membrane could work like an eardrum to hear.
Models show the membrane would pick up airborne sound.
This hearing was better than only bone conduction alone.
Scientists used CT scans and engineering simulations on fossils.
The study changes when sensitive hearing first evolved overall.

Difficult words

ancient — from a very long time ago

membrane — a thin soft layer on a body part

eardrum — thin part inside the ear that hears

fossil — hard remains of a plant or animal

fossils

evolve — to change slowly over time

evolved

hearing — the sense that detects sounds

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Jaw membrane in ancient Thrinaxodon may be an early eardrum^{CEFR A1}

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