Mamal which ate dinosaurs discovered

  • Thread starter wasteofo2
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Dinosaurs
In summary, a recent fossil discovery in China has challenged the previously accepted belief that early mammals only existed as small, mouse-like creatures during the time of the dinosaurs. The fossil, belonging to a carnivorous mammal called Repenomamus robustus, contains the remains of a young dinosaur in its stomach, indicating that mammals were larger and more predatory than previously thought. This finding fills in evolutionary gaps and corrects assumptions about the first mammals and their relationship with dinosaurs. The first primates may have also existed during the time of the dinosaurs, but their presence is still uncertain. The diversification of mammals likely did not occur until after the extinction of the dinosaurs.
  • #1
wasteofo2
478
2
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4165973.stm

BBC said:
An astonishing new fossil unearthed in China has overturned the accepted view about the relationship between dinosaurs and early mammals.

The specimen belongs to a primitive mammal about 130 million years old and its stomach contents show that it ate young dinosaurs called psittacosaurs.

The mammal with the dinosaur in its stomach belongs to a carnivorous mammal called Repenomamus robustus, which was about the size of an opossum.

"At first, we thought it was a placental mammal carrying an embryo. But then we looked more closely and saw it was a dinosaur," said co-author Dr Meng Jin, curator of palaeontology at the American Museum of Natural History.

"The position was also interesting; it was located in the lower left side of the fossil - exactly the position where the stomach is located in extant mammals."

Turns out that the stuff I learned as a kid about the only mamals during the time of the Dinosaurs being little mice who scurried away everytime a Dinosaur came along might not be totally true afterall.

Just imagine how many evolutionary gaps this thing must fill in, and how many wrong assumptions it must correct! I've always learned that the first mamals were just mice-like things, and all else evolved from them after the Dinosaurs went extinct. Now we know about this new predacious mamal from 135 million years ago that could have spawned so many of the creatures we know today.
 
Biology news on Phys.org
  • #2
Cool, eh?
The first mammals appeared sometime around 165-200 million years ago (not sure what form...likely those mice/shrew things you're thinking of).
These mammals diverged into the marsupial & placental lineages when the dinos were still around (c. 125 million years ago).
As for the first primates, it seems there is some question whether or not they were around when the dinos were. The first unequivocal primate fossils were from after the dino's time (c. 55 million year ago) but there are some possible ones from 85 million years ago.
My impression is that the range of mammals was still fairly limited during the dino's reign and the more rapid diversification of mammals didn't occur until after the KT event.
 
  • #3


Thank you for sharing this fascinating discovery! It's incredible to think that there were larger mammals coexisting with dinosaurs, and that they were even capable of preying on them. This new finding definitely challenges our previous understanding of mammal evolution and the role they played during the time of the dinosaurs. It also highlights the importance of continued scientific research and how it can constantly change our understanding of the world around us. I can't wait to see what other discoveries may be waiting to be unearthed in the future.
 

1. What is the scientific name of the mammal that ate dinosaurs?

The scientific name of the mammal that ate dinosaurs is Repenomamus robustus. It is also commonly known as "robust robber".

2. When was the mammal that ate dinosaurs discovered?

The mammal that ate dinosaurs was discovered in 2005 by a team of scientists led by Jin Meng, a paleontologist at the American Museum of Natural History.

3. How did scientists determine that the mammal ate dinosaurs?

Scientists determined that the mammal ate dinosaurs by examining the fossilized remains of a small dinosaur, Psittacosaurus, in the stomach of the Repenomamus robustus. The stomach contents showed that the mammal had consumed the dinosaur shortly before its death.

4. What was the size of the mammal that ate dinosaurs?

The Repenomamus robustus was about the size of a large dog, measuring around 1 meter in length and weighing up to 12 kilograms.

5. What significance does the discovery of this mammal have in the study of dinosaurs?

The discovery of the mammal that ate dinosaurs provides evidence that mammals were already diversifying and evolving during the time of dinosaurs. It also sheds light on the relationship between dinosaurs and mammals during the Mesozoic era, challenging the traditional view that mammals were small and insignificant creatures during this time.

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top