Researchers have unearthed an ancient fossil of a cute furball. The creature, known as Spinolestes xenarthrosus, was discovered by researchers in Las Hoyas Quarry in Spain. The discovery has been published in the journal Nature.

Dr Zhe-Xi Luo, researcher from the University of Chicago and co-author of the new discovery, said Spinolestes xenarthrosus is a spectacular discovery by the researchers. Unearthed remains of the creature are perfectly preserved skin and hair structures. "This Cretaceous furball displays the entire structural diversity of modern mammalian skin and hairs. The specimen's liver, lung and diaphragm tissues were found intact, as well as fur, spines and scales", the co-author added.

While explaining the discovery in detail, Thomas Martin, professor at the University of Bonn, said finding remains like bones and skeletons are common. It is very rare to discover soft parts in great detail, Martin said.

After analyzing the newly unearthed remains, the researchers predicted that the creature was very small. Its weight must be between 50 and 70 grams, they said. It had pointy face and big ears, according to the researchers. Insects were main food sources of the creature.

According to Martin, the creature was very cute, but it also had a defensive side. Its small spiky spines helped it to fend of predators. Potential predators could be small dinosaurs, whose remains have also been unearthed from the same site in the country. According to historians, Spain was a lush tropical wetland about 125 million years.