Main content
Archaeologists discover prehistoric food chain fossil
Archaeologists have found a three-layer fossil of an insect inside a lizard inside a snake.
The snake died 48 million years ago at Messel Pit in Germany, a former volcanic lake with toxic waters, which helped preserve it.
The fossil is the second ever case to demonstrate three levels of the food chain.
Paleontologist Krister Smith from the Senckenberg Institute, who identified the three animals, said: "This must be one of the most extraordinary specimens I've ever had the honour of studying."
This clip is originally from Up All Night on Wednesday 14 September 2016.
Duration:
This clip is from
Featured in...
News archive—5 Live In Short
The best current affairs interviews, insight and analysis from Âé¶¹Éç Radio 5 live.
More clips from 5 Live In Short
-
How a football and a bin revolutionised lunchtimes
Duration: 00:54
-
‘I struggled to get my shoes on and get dressed’
Duration: 01:05