The separation of the auditory ossicles from the jaw, as observed in Origolestes lii, was a valuable evolutionary development that emerged through multiple pathways, leading to numerous innovations in jaw and ear evolution, particularly among therian mammals. This final step eliminated the physical constraint between the two systems, allowing for greater potential in the evolution of diverse ear and jaw morphologies among its descendants.
Origolestes lii fossils reveal the pivotal moment when the auditory ossicles became detached from the lower jaw, dividing the previously integrated functions of hearing and chewing.
