Synapsids, Non-Mammalian Mammals

Over the past couple hundreds of years, the jaw bones of fish have evolved into the three ossicles that are found within the ears of all mammals that exist to this day. These fish can be referred to as synapsids, non-mammalian organisms which gave rise to mammals. Initially the jaw joints of the synapsids were formed by the articular and quadrate bones but with time, this began to change for majority of them.