It may have been a valid fear for the fictional characters in the 1993 film Jurassic Park, but scientists believe they have discovered the first known case of a mammal being eaten by a dinosaur.
However, the 120-million-year-old fossil is not of a human ancestor, but instead an animal leg in the ribcage of a small feathered dinosaur known as a microraptor.
Paleontologists said their findings, published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, were “the first record of a dinosaur eating a mammal.”
An artist’s impression issued by Queen Mary University of London of the small feathered dinosaur known as Microraptor. Photo: Ralph Attanasia III/PA
Dr David Hone, from Queen Mary University of London, who was first author of the study, said: “It is so rare to find examples of food in dinosaurs, so any example is really important as it gives direct evidence of what they ate .
“Although this mammal would absolutely not be a human ancestor, we can look back to some of our ancient relatives who were food for hungry dinosaurs.
“This research paints a picture of a fascinating moment in time—the first record of a dinosaur eating a mammal—even if it’s not as frightening as anything in Jurassic Park.”
Microraptors lived in the ancient forests of what is now China, somewhere between 125 and 113 million years ago.
As it moved on its two legs, experts believe that some species may have been capable of controlled flight.
They were about the size of crows or small cats and moved from tree to tree to hunt small animals.
The specimen was first described more than 20 years ago, in 2000, but researchers said the previous team had failed to see the remains of another animal inside the dinosaur.
The analysis suggests that the prey was a mouse-sized mammal that lived on the ground and was not a good climber.
Previous research has shown other microraptor fossils with preserved non-mammalian food in their stomachs, such as a bird, lizard or fish.
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