A study released Tuesday describes a rare fossil that scientists believe shows ancient mammals were “wrestling to the death” with dinosaurs.

Researchers have discovered 125-million-year-old fossils in the Lujiatun Formation of the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in China. According to the study, this seems to indicate that Gobiconodont mammals and Psittacosaurus dinosaurs were engaged in a deadly battle. published in a scientific report. Preserved fossils led scientists to hypothesize that the small mammals were actually trying to eat the dinosaurs.

Unfortunately, hunting for our mammalian ancestors was interrupted when a nearby volcanic eruption flew volcanic debris onto the creature, potentially killing it in the future. images of fossils share It shows an amazing state of preservation on social media.

Fossils unearthed in northeastern China’s Liaoning province show a badger-like mammal attacking a herbivorous dinosaur about 125 million years ago, driving its teeth into the victim’s ribs. scientists said on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/eXeXYgGFbc

— China People’s Daily (@PDChina) July 18, 2023

“It flips an old story upside down,” says University of Edinburgh paleontologist Steve Brusatte, who was not involved in the study. Said Associated Press. “We are used to thinking of the dinosaur age as a time when dinosaurs ruled the world and small mammals crouched in the shadows.” (Related: Our earliest ancestors walked among dinosaurs, study claims)

But in this case, a mammal the size of a domestic cat was about to eat a dinosaur about the size of a medium-sized dog, reports the Associated Press. The latter are plant eaters, which shows how dangerous vegetarianism can be.