Scientists believe they may have uncovered the first known incident of a mammal being eaten by a dinosaur.
Paleontologists in Britain have analyzed fossil remains from around120 million years ago, showing a small, feathered dinosaur — known as Micro raptor — with the foot of an animal inside its rib cage.
The experts said their findings, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, is “the first record of a dinosaur eating a mammal.”
Dr David Hone, from Queen Mary University of London, who is first author on the study, said: “It’s so rare to find examples of food inside dinosaurs, so every example is really important as it gives direct evidence of what they were eating.
“While this mammal would absolutely not have been a human ancestor,we can look back at some of our ancient relatives being a meal for hungry dinosaurs.
“This study paints a picture of a fascinating moment in time — the first record of a dinosaur eating a mammal — even if it isn’t quite as frightening as anything in Jurassic Park.”
Micro raptors lived in the ancient forests of what is now China,somewhere between 125 and 113 million years ago.
While it moved on its two legs, experts believe some species may have been capable of guided flight.
About the size of a crow or a small cat, Micro raptors would have been gliding from tree to tree to prey on small animals.
Although the specimen was first described in 2000, the researchers said the previous team had failed to see the remains of another animal inside the dinosaur.
Further analysis suggests the prey was a mammal about the size of a mouse, which likely lived on the ground and was not a good climber.
Previous research has shown other Micro raptor specimens with preserved food in their stomachs, such as a bird, a lizard and a fish.
However, the team added that it is not certain if these dinosaurs had directly preyed on these animals or found them already dead and had scavenged them.” — dpa
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