Very Rare 125 Million Years Dinosaur Fossils Unearthed in China

The latest study showed a rare discovery of 125 million years of dinosaur fossils, revealing a mammal's attacking behavior toward a dinosaur.

The study was published in Scientific Reports.

According to the researchers, dinosaurs and mammals managed to coexist for about 230 million years, originating during the Late Triassic.

The study noted that mammals could have threatened dinosaurs despite their size, showing the predatory behavior of mammals.

Very Rare Dinosaur Fossils

The researchers unearthed the 128 million years old dinosaur fossils in China's northeastern Liaoning Province, showing the predation attempt of the gobiconodontid mammal against a larger dinosaur.

Reports showed that the dinosaur was three times larger.

According to Newsweek's report, paleobiologist Jordan Mallon explained that the two animals were found to become locked in mortal combat.

Mallon is the study's co-author and from the Canadian Museum of Nature.

CBS News further reported that the dinosaur involved was a Psittacosaurus. The mammal was a Repenomamus robustus.

The study added that the dinosaur skeleton was complete, which could be likely around 6.5 years old to 10 years old. The lahar flow could likely interrupted the mortal combat between the smaller mammal and the enormous dinosaur.

The two buried and died from the volcanic debris lahar flow.

The study, available in Scientific Reports, showed that the smaller mammal's hand gripped the dinosaur's lower jaw. In addition, the mammal bit the dinosaur's left broken anterior dorsal ribs.

According to the researchers, the mammal was positioned atop the weakened dinosaur.

Paleobiologist Jordan Mallon added that the discovery revealed the first fossil of a mammal that fought a dinosaur.

Mallon noted that the very rare fossils explained that dinosaurs did not only feed on smaller mammals, showing the animals' non-unilateral interactions.

In assessing the discovery, the researchers noted that the intertwined image of a dinosaur and mammal was authentic and amazing.

More facts about dinosaur

Dinosaurs are considered larger animals that thrived on the planet for at least 245 million years.

Experts and paleontologists have helped unearth the rare fossils of dinosaurs, providing people with complete dinosaurs using advanced scientific tools.

According to the American Museum of Natural History, there are said to be 700 known dinosaur species that are already extinct.

Using the dinosaur fossils, experts can decipher their food habits and behavior.

In terms of size and length, dinosaurs were gigantic, becoming fearful predators during their time.

Based on the Dinosaur Museum, the first dinosaur remains in North America were unearthed in 1854. The longest dinosaur is known as Argentinosaurus, discovered in parts of South America and Argentina.

The More Reptiles website explained Tyrannosaur Rex is known as the most fearful and dangerous dinosaur. The T-Rex had a powerful bite that could take down their enemies.

The oldest fossils that the experts unearthed were said to be 243 years old.

Most dinosaur species were said to be herbivores.

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