David and Goliath! Incredible fossil reveals a dinosaur locked in a fight to the death with a tiny badger-like mammal 125 million years ago
- Incredible fossil found of a dinosaur and a badger-like mammal locked in a fight
- It is one of the first pieces of evidence showing that mammals attacked dinosaurs larger than themselves.
Scientists have revealed an incredible fossil of a dinosaur and a badger-like mammal locked in an eternal fight to the death.
The 125-million-year-old fossil captures the dramatic moment when a carnivorous mammal attacked a large herbivorous dinosaur.
It’s some of the first evidence to show that mammals attacked dinosaurs larger than themselves, rather than just their young.
The dinosaur in the well-preserved fossil is a species of Psittacosaurus, which was about the size of a large dog and whose name translates to “parrot lizard.”
Meanwhile, the mammal in the fossil pair is a badger-like animal, called Repenomamus robustus.
Scientists reveal an incredible fossil of a dinosaur and a badger-like mammal locked in an eternal fight to the death
The 125-million-year-old fossil captures the dramatic moment when a carnivorous mammal attacked a large herbivorous dinosaur.
Although not large by dinosaur standards, it was among the largest mammals during the Cretaceous period, at a time when mammals had not yet come to dominate the Earth.
The fossil was collected in the Chinese province of Liaoning and both skeletons are almost complete.
A close look shows the mammal sitting on its prey, grasping the jaws of the larger dinosaur.
It can also be seen biting into the dinosaur’s ribs, while using its hind legs to grab onto the dinosaur’s hind leg.
It is believed that the couple may have been suddenly buried by landslides and debris following a volcanic eruption.
Dr Jordan Mallon, co-author of the study from the Canadian Museum of Nature, said: “The two animals are locked in mortal combat, intimately intertwined, and it is some of the first evidence to show real predatory behavior by a mammal on a dinosaur”.
“The coexistence of these two animals is not new, but what is new to science through this amazing fossil is the predatory behavior it displays.
“The weight of the evidence suggests that an active attack was taking place.”
The findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The dinosaur in the well-preserved fossil is a species of Psittacosaurus, which was about the size of a large dog and whose name translates to “parrot lizard.” Meanwhile, the mammal in the fossil pair is a badger-like animal, called Repenomamus robustus.
A close look shows the mammal sitting on its prey, grasping the jaws of the larger dinosaur. It can also be seen biting into the dinosaur’s ribs, while using its hind legs to grab onto the dinosaur’s hind leg.
