LAUSR

or whether it evolved independently (by convergent evolution) in different groups as their middle ears became detached from their jaws. Although their research is a major contribution to the understanding of Haramiyida, Wang and colleagues’ study will not settle the debate about the placement and composition of this group. The striking increase in fossil discoveries, in particular new specimens from China, has fuelled routine revision of the mammalian tree of life during the past few years. In the end, the lasting impact of Wang and colleagues’ research will probably lie in their detailed evaluation of fossil and developmental morphologies of the middle ear, and the establishment of new terminology that is consistent with current evidence. Their work is a foundational reference for future studies that provides a framework on which to evaluate the evolution of the middle ear and new fossil discoveries. Simone Hoffmann is in the Department of Anatomy, New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York 11568, USA. e-mail: [email protected]