Dinosaurs were animals that dominated the dynamics of planetary habitats millions of years ago. These represented a very diverse group, both from a taxonomic point of view and from the characteristics they had. Thus, they existed from individuals that did not reach a meter in height to those that measured around 30 meters.
The eating habits of dinosaurs also varied from one species to another. In this way, there were those who had a carnivorous diet, there were herbivores and those who consumed both types of food lived. We invite you to continue reading this article on our site so you can learn about the omnivorous dinosaurs, characteristics and examples
Were there omnivorous dinosaurs?
When asked if there were omnivorous dinosaurs, the answer is yes: Yes, there were Fossil finds have allowed the scientists to be able to know and identify various traits that animals had, and the dinosaurs are no exception to this, despite how difficult it is in many cases due to the types of samples found.
However, the remains of the petrified bodies of these fascinating animals have offered invaluable information and, within this, it is known that certain species had a feed that included to other animals but also to plants, so they are defined as omnivorous dinosaurs.
Characteristics of omnivorous dinosaurs
It is important to bear in mind that the study of dinosaurs is an area that is advancing with advances in science In Sometimes the trait that was thought for a species of these animals does not turn out to be that way. Therefore, it is necessary to keep in mind that there are not always absolute or definitive aspects in this regard.
Next, we comment on certain aspects related to the characteristics of omnivorous dinosaurs:
- A significant number of these animals described so far were characterized by being bipedal, that is, they moved only supported by the lower extremities, and taxonomically they correspond to the group of theropods. Find out more about Bipedal Animals: examples and characteristics, here.
- In various species the forelimbs were smaller, which were used for various tasks, and food was one of them. But it was not an absolute trait, others had these elongated structures.
- The ancestral theropods were considered strict carnivores, however, it is now known that in certain species there was aflexible in terms of diet , which included facultative herbivores, so they were omnivores.
- In some cases, teeth of omnivorous dinosaurs were small and not as serrated.
- They were generally small to mediumsizes, though with some exceptions.
- Omnivorous dinosaurs should not have had the specialized teeth of a carnivore for tearing flesh, nor the long digestive system of a herbivore for processing and digesting plants. So anatomically and physiologically were between carnivores and herbivores
- The ability to be fast is a trait present in various omnivorous dinosaurs.
- The mouth of certain species was beak-shaped, in which the small teeth could be present or even absent, which would indicate that the animal prey was of minute size.
What did omnivorous dinosaurs eat?
The diet of an omnivorous dinosaur was more flexible and varied than that of carnivores or exclusive herbivores. In certain species classified as omnivores, remains of gastroliths were found, which are small rocks used by herbivorous animals that helped them grind plant food once consumed. Omnivorous dinosaurs ate:
- Small mammals.
- Small reptiles.
- Insects.
- Fishes.
- Eggs.
- Plants: such as cycads, conifers or ferns, among others.
- Seeds.
- Fruits.
Types of omnivorous dinosaurs
Here are some examples of omnivorous dinosaurs:
Tail Feather (Caudipteryx)
In this genus we find dinosaurs very similar to a bird: their remains were found in China. They moved bipedally, the teeth were weak, sharp and pointed forward, present only in the front region of the upper jaw. Remains of gastroliths were found in the gizzard. It is estimated that it fed on insects and plants
Horrible Hand (Deinocheirus)
This is a dinosaur found in Mongolia, exceptionally large within the group of omnivores, as it reached around 10 meters in length. It was bipedal, with forelimbs with huge claws It had a bill similar to that of a duck, suggesting that foraged for food in the ground or water It is also estimated that its bite was weak, with a downward-sloping U-shaped jaw, common in facultative herbivores.
You may also be interested in taking a look at these other Types of herbivorous dinosaurs.
Emu mimic (Dromiceiomimus)
This genus of omnivorous dinosaur was found in Canada, and there have been taxonomic controversies about it. It was a biped of about 3.5 meters and about 100 kg Its appearance must have been very similar to ostrichescurrent, but without the plumage, although it is not ruled out that it had some. It had a horny beak and possibly fed on insects, other animals and plants.
Egg Thief (Oviraptor)
Found in Mongolia, this theropod dinosaur was not large, being about 2 meters long and weighing around 20 kg. The jaws were curved, estimating that it had the strength to crush hard food. It possessed a toothless beak and it is thought that its diet consisted of eggs, hard fruits, seeds and certain small animals.
Ostrich mimic (Struthiomimus)
This dinosaur was a biped of about 150 kg and 4 meters in dimension, which was found in Canada. There have been discussions about the food that it consumed, however, some features of the body such as its horny beak with straight edges and the lack of teeth, suggest that it consumed both plants and animals.
Prickly Tooth (Echinodon)
The genus corresponds to a small dinosaur found in England. Medium between 60 and 90 cm longThere has been debate as to whether it was an herbivore or an omnivore. However, this last type of diet has been accepted on the basis that their canines and premaxillae do not have the typical wear of a diet exclusively of plants.
