Microraptor died 120 million years ago with the FOOT of a small animal lodged in its ribcage

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Paleontologists in the UK have proved that a small feathered flying dinosaur, about the same size as a housecat, ate mammals.

A fossil of the dinosaur, known as Microraptor, was found with the foot of a small mouse-sized creature inside its ribcage.

Scientists, who published their findings in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, said the findings were the ‘first record of a dinosaur eating a mammal’.

Dr David Horne from Queen Mary University of London 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.

Microraptor died 120 million years ago with the FOOT of a small animal lodged in its ribcage

A fossil (pictured) of the dinosaur known as Microraptor was found with the foot of a small mouse-sized creature inside its ribcage. The study by Queen Mary University London believe this is the first known incident of a mammal being eaten by a dinosaur 

Microraptors were small dinosaurs, around 2.6ft tall, that lived in forests in what is now China, around 120 million years ago

Microraptors were small dinosaurs, around 2.6ft tall, that lived in forests in what is now China, around 120 million years ago

What did a Microraptor look like? 

Microcraptor means ‘small thief’ in Greek.

It was given its name for being known as one of the smallest of the raptor species of dinosaur.

It is one of the smallest dinosaurs discovered to date.

The dinosaur had flight feathers on all four of its limbs.

The feathers are believed to be a glossy, iridescent colour.

The Microraptor travelled on two feet but there is also evidence that it was capable of flight.

Some believe the dinosaur launched itself from tree to tree, gliding like a flying squirrel. 

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‘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.’

After discovering the groundbreaking fossil, further analysis suggested the prey lodged in the dinosaur’s ribcage was a mammal about the size of a mouse. 

First discovered in 2000, microraptors – meaning ‘small thief’ in Greek – lived somewhere between 113 and 125 million years ago, in ancient forests of what is now China.

Weighing around 2.2lbs (1kg) with a length of 2.6ft (0.8m), experts believe it may have been capable of guided flight.

Fitted out with long flight feathers on each of its four limbs, paleontologists previously questioned whether these weathers were to aid flight or attract mates.

Early records of a iridescent feather colours led researchers to believe the dinosaurs used their shiny wings as a way of demonstrating sexual prowess.

Evidence suggests the animal would have likely lived on the ground and not be a good climber.

Prior to this study, research into the feathered dinosaur showed that they ate creatures such as birds, lizards and fish.

A closer image of the foot found within the ribcage of a Microraptor. First discovered in 2000, Microraptors, which means 'small thief' in Greek, lived somewhere between 113 and 125 million years ago, in ancient forests in what is now China

A closer image of the foot found within the ribcage of a Microraptor. First discovered in 2000, Microraptors, which means ‘small thief’ in Greek, lived somewhere between 113 and 125 million years ago, in ancient forests in what is now China

In 2019, paleontologists found a never-seen-before species of lizard inside the fossilized stomach of a Microraptor. Pictured: Illustration of a microraptor swallowing a lizzar

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In 2019, paleontologists found a never-seen-before species of lizard inside the fossilized stomach of a Microraptor. Pictured: Illustration of a microraptor swallowing a lizzar 

Evidence suggests Microraptor species preserved food in their stomachs.

What still remains a mystery, however, is whether the species consumed by the Microraptor was found dead and then scavenged, or whether the dinosaur preyed on them.

Previous researchers have also indicated the dinosaur could have been an opportunistic predator.  

Dr Alex Dececchi, from Mount Marty College in South Dakota, US, and one of the study authors, said: ‘The great thing is that – like your housecat, which was about the same size – Microraptor would have been an easy animal to live with but a terror if it got out, as it would hunt everything from the birds at your feeder to the mice in your hedge or the fish in your pond.’

In 2019, paleontologists found a never-seen-before species of lizard inside the fossilized stomach of a Microraptor. 

This was the fourth documented case of a Microraptor preserving what it had eaten in its stomach.

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HOW THE DINOSAURS WENT EXTINCT AROUND 66 MILLION YEARS AGO

Dinosaurs ruled and dominated Earth around 66 million years ago, before they suddenly went extinct. 

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The Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event is the name given to this mass extinction.

It was believed for many years that the changing climate destroyed the food chain of the huge reptiles. 

In the 1980s, paleontologists discovered a layer of iridium.

This is an element that is rare on Earth but is found  in vast quantities in space.  

When this was dated, it coincided precisely with when the dinosaurs disappeared from the fossil record. 

A decade later, scientists uncovered the massive Chicxulub Crater at the tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, which dates to the period in question. 

Scientific consensus now says that these two factors are linked and they were both probably caused by an enormous asteroid crashing to Earth.

With the projected size and impact velocity, the collision would have caused an enormous shock-wave and likely triggered seismic activity. 

The fallout would have created plumes of ash that likely covered all of the planet and made it impossible for dinosaurs to survive. 

Other animals and plant species had a shorter time-span between generations which allowed them to survive.

There are several other theories as to what caused the demise of the famous animals. 

One early theory was that small mammals ate dinosaur eggs and another proposes that toxic angiosperms (flowering plants) killed them off.  

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