Mammal
Repenomamus robustus
Repenomamus robustusRepenomamus robustus was a stocky, badger-sized predatory mammal that stalked the temperate lake forests of the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota. Equipped with powerful crushing jaws and sharp incisors, it hunted small vertebrates and scavenged larger carcasses, challenging long-held assumptions that Mesozoic mammals were exclusively tiny insectivores. One remarkably preserved fossil was uncovered with the disarticulated skeletal remains of a juvenile Psittacosaurus inside its abdominal cavity, providing direct physical evidence of early mammals preying on dinosaurs.
PrehistoricCarnivorousFossil
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPsittacosaurus lujiatunensis, Liaoxiornis delicatus, Jeholosaurus shangyuanensis
Predators
- Sinocalliopteryx gigas
- Dilong paradoxus
ThreatsVolcanic eruptions, ash falls, and predatory theropod dinosaurs
HabitatsTemperate volcanic lake basins and conifer forests
Life spanUnknown (estimated 8–15 years)
Classification
- FamilyRepenomamidae
- GenusRepenomamus
- SpeciesRepenomamus robustus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct prehistoric species known only from Early Cretaceous fossil deposits.
Responsible observation
- Fossil Examination: View holotypes in Beijing museums to see intact swallowed dinosaur bones.
- Geological Context: Explore Yixian Formation deposits to understand Mesozoic volcanic preservation.
Image unavailablePrey 
Close Relative Morosaurus millenii / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-saClose Relative
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.