Fossilized vomit – a paleontological find known as regurgitalite – has revealed a snapshot of predator-prey interactions from 290 million years ago, predating the age of dinosaurs. This discovery, detailed in a recent Scientific Reports study, provides rare direct evidence of what ancient animals ate and how they processed their meals.
The Bromacker Site and the Discovery
The fossil was unearthed at the Bromacker site in Germany, a location already renowned for its exceptional preservation of early terrestrial ecosystems. This valley, dating back to the Permian period, was apparently inhabited by numerous herbivores and the predators that fed on them. The regurgitalite itself initially appeared unremarkable, until meticulous cleaning and a computed tomography (CT) scan revealed its hidden contents: 41 small bones representing three distinct species.
Distinguishing Vomit from Feces: A Scientific Challenge
Identifying regurgitalite versus coprolite (fossilized feces) isn’t always straightforward. Researchers determined this specimen was vomited rather than defecated due to two key factors. First, the leg bones of the largest prey animal were still connected, indicating they hadn’t fully passed through a digestive system. Second, the surrounding material had low phosphorus content, unlike typical fecal matter.
What Did They Eat?
The bones belonged to two small reptiles and a larger reptile-like animal. This suggests that one of two predators from the Bromacker site – Dimetrodon teutonis or Tambacarnifex unguifalcatus – consumed these creatures. Both were synapsids, early relatives of mammals, reaching lengths of 20–30 inches without their tails. The discovery confirms that these predators actively hunted and consumed smaller animals in the same region.
Why This Matters
This fossil is significant because it provides direct evidence of a predator feeding on multiple prey species in a single meal. It mirrors behaviors observed in modern animals like owls and Komodo dragons, who also regurgitate undigestible remains. More importantly, it demonstrates that all three species lived and died within the same narrow timeframe – possibly even on the same day – offering a unique window into ancient ecological relationships.
This find underscores how rare direct evidence of ancient feeding behaviors is, and how even unappetizing fossils can reveal critical insights into prehistoric ecosystems.
The study highlights the value of overlooked fossils, demonstrating that even “waste” products can illuminate the dynamics of life long before the dinosaurs ruled the Earth.
