First evidence found of a dinosaur eating a mammal

Bob Yirka is a research scientist at Phys.org.

There is evidence of a dinosaur eating a mammal. The group describes their reexamination of a fossil found more than two decades ago.

The work builds on the findings of a previous team who studied the fossil. The formation was found in western China. The research team dated it to 120 million years ago, and found that the fossil was missing most of its middle part, but its rib cage was still intact.

Microraptors were similar to their larger cousins in that they were three toed dinosaurs. Compared to other dinosaurs, they were small and lived in trees. Microraptors may have used feathers to glide down from trees.

The researchers found a fossil inside of the microraptor that was once a mammal. A small fossil mammal foot was found behind the ribs, showing that the larger creature feasted on the smaller mammal.

Prior research shows that other small creatures have been eaten by dinosaurs, but never a mammal. The lack of mammal remains inside the stomachs of dinosaurs is thought to be due to the rarity of finding other creatures inside of dinosaurs.

The foot of the microraptor's corpse has been studied by the researchers, but they have not been able to identify which mammal it was. They noted that it had short toes, similar to modern Possums. The researchers want to know if the dinosaur ate the mammal or if it chased it down and killed it. It would have been possible for it to swoop down and catch a small creature if it had glider-type wings.

David W. E. Hone and his colleagues wrote about the generalist diet of Microraptor zhaoianus. The DOI is 10.1080.

Journal information: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology

There is a science network.