Millions of years ago, Dinosaurs lived on Earth. While we have discovered several pieces of evidence since the 1600s, there is much more to discover. Recently, scientists discovered their taste for mammals. Read to know more.
Proof obtained: Dinosaurs ate mammals
Since the first evidence of dinosaurs in the 1600s, the beasts have been fascinating humans. In a recent study, scientists discovered a rare find revealing they consumed mammals at one point in time. Hans Larsson made the discovery while visiting a museum’s collection in China. Larsson observed a mammal’s foot among the preserved and fossilized gut of a Microraptor zhaoianus. Larson is a professor of Biology at the Redpath Museum at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. This is only the 21st known example of a fossilized dinosaur and its last meal. It was discovered in Liaoning in the northeastern part of China in the early 2000s.
Microraptor zhaoianus is a small dinosaur measuring up to three meters, The small featured therapod walked on two legs. “At first, I couldn’t believe it. There was a tiny rodent-like mammal foot about a centimeter (0.4 inches) long perfectly preserved inside a Microraptor skeleton,” stated Larsson. Additionally, he stated these finds are the sole “solid evidence” explaining food consumption by these ancient animals.
More on the discovery
His discovery is one of its kind as previous specimens only revealed proof of dinosaurs consuming lizards, birds, and fish, However, as per Larsson, “this new find adds a small mammal to their diet, suggesting these dinosaurs were opportunistic and not picky eaters”. The study published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology also delves into generalist predators such as crows and foxes. They act as stabilizers in the present ecosystem and may help in better understanding Microraptor zhaoianus and other therapods once served in a similar role. The therapod family also includes the famed Tyrannosaurus rex