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Large Mesozoic mammals fed on young dinosaurs

Author

Listed:
  • Yaoming Hu

    (Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology & Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    American Museum of Natural History
    Biology Program, Graduate School and City College of New York, City University of New York)

  • Jin Meng

    (American Museum of Natural History)

  • Yuanqing Wang

    (Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology & Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Chuankui Li

    (Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology & Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Mammal bites dinosaur We tend to think of the the mammals that lived in the shadow of the dinosaurs as scuttling around trying not to get eaten or trodden on. They were small, the size of a modern shrew or rat, feeding on insects, and active during evening hours. That picture is changing. The extinct mammal Repenomamus robustus, discovered five years ago, broke the mould: it was much bigger, the size of a Virginia opossum. And now another member of the genus Repenomamus has been found that is half as big again, the size of a badger or jackal. What's more, a specimen of R. robustus found preserved with its last meal inside its — stomach the bones of young dinosaurs. These carnivorous mammals were beginning to come out of the shadows.

Suggested Citation

  • Yaoming Hu & Jin Meng & Yuanqing Wang & Chuankui Li, 2005. "Large Mesozoic mammals fed on young dinosaurs," Nature, Nature, vol. 433(7022), pages 149-152, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:433:y:2005:i:7022:d:10.1038_nature03102
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03102
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