Ancient ichthyosaur ate a pterosaur, then Kronosaurus attacked
Scientists used advanced imaging technology to analyze a 100-million-year-old ichthyosaur fossil found in Australia. The scans revealed the creature's final meal and evidence that it was likely attacked by a larger predator, the Kronosaurus.
Why it matters
This discovery provides rare, non-invasive insights into the complex food webs and predatory behaviors of prehistoric marine ecosystems.
According to a study published in the journal Gondwana Research, supported by findings from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), neutron and synchrotron scans of a 100-million-year-old ichthyosaur fossil from Queensland have uncovered the marine reptile's final meal, and clues to its violent end. Researchers found the remains of fish, cephalopods and part of a pterosaur preserved inside its stomach, while crushing bite marks suggest it was probably scavenged or attacked by the giant marine predator Kronosaurus queenslandicus. The fossil offers a rare glimpse into the complex food web of Australia's ancient inland sea.A remarkably preserved fossil from northwestern Queensland has allowed scientists to reconstruct one of the most dramatic prehistoric stories ever captured in stone.
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