Close up photograph of the mammal foot among the ribs of Microraptor.Hans Larsson
Posted on 12/27/2022 12:33:57 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Around 120 million years ago, four-winged dinosaurs roughly the size of crows called Microraptors stalked the ancient woodlands of what is now China.
While researchers have studied several Microraptor specimens, there's still a lot we don't know about these feathered bird-like creatures – including what and how they ate.
Now an incredibly rare fossil has revealed the preserved final meal of one individual: and unexpectedly, it was a mammal...
The first Microraptor fossil was found in Liaoning, China, in 2000. There are three known species, which lived in the early Cretacious period, and the fossil in question belongs to Microraptor zhaoianus...
The Microraptors were among some of the first dinosaurs that were found with fully feathered wings on both its arms and legs – and alongside the famous feathered dinosaur Archaeopteryx, have reinforced theories that propose modern birds are closely related to categories of dinosaur.
While some studies have shown that Microraptors would have been capable of powered flight, it's generally thought that they mostly used their wings to glide.
Up until now, the small dinosaurs had only been confirmed to eat birds, fish, and lizards, and they were thought to be arboreal hunters that glided down from the trees to capture prey...
It's incredibly rare to find dinosaur fossils that preserve their last meal inside their stomach, they add. Out of all the carnivorous dinosaur fossils that have been found, we only know of 20 that contain their last meals.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencealert.com ...
Close up photograph of the mammal foot among the ribs of Microraptor.Hans Larsson
Ate a poison mammal. Way to go.
Evidence for a global flood which included quick deep freeze of the polar ice caps. Prior to the flood the entire earth had a sub-tropical climate, which explains the flora found crisp and fresh in some large plant-eaters.
I thought they all died from smoking.
Nah, it was climate change.
Monkey pox.
Maybe the article’s title should be, “Paleontologist eats crow” too...
“At first, I couldn’t believe it,” says vertebrate paleontologist Hans Larsson.
When I drive from Boston to New York I always see a sign on I-91 in Connecticut for “Dinosaur State Park”...not far from Hartford. I’ve always meant to make a stop...maybe I will in the Spring.
A Twinkie?.....................
Dinosaur Park in Rocky Hill was the standard Ct primary school field trip. It’s okay. What’s there is good, but there’s not a lot there.
When I drive from Boston to New York I always see a sign on I-91 in Connecticut for “Dinosaur State Park”.
Soon to be the Biden Presidential Library.
Remember, T-Rex only sees you if you move. And don’t trust Newman if you see him running around.
Cousin Bob, now I know why he didn’t come home. RIP.
Microraptor zhaoianus …
Yes,I lead a boring life! ;-)
When you gotta go you gotta go!
Lol! You even underlined it!
Jurasic Buffalo Wings?
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