The word dinosaur comes from the Latin dinosaurium, which means "terrible lizard". These were the vertebrates that dominated the rest of the animal diversity millions of years ago, around which we generally feel great curiosity and fascination due to the large number of stories that have been handled about them. Scientific studies have managed to show, thanks to the fossil record, the rich diversity that made up this group, which is all extinct, with the exception of its descendants, the birds
So far, about a thousand species of dinosaurs have been described, but there are still many others to be identified, however, it has been established that these impressive animals measured from a few centimeters (50 cm) to ten or more meters in height, which generated an important distinction in its characteristics, as is the case of its diet. Therefore, in this article on our site we want to talk to you about what the dinosaurs ate
What and how did the dinosaurs eat?
Dinosaur fossils have been found on practically every continent on the planet, although not in every country, but paleontological findings have shown that these animals occupied different types of regions that we know today as Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Spain, Madagascar, Russia, Uruguay or Zimbabwe, among many others.
Scientific studies have shown that dinosaurs could feed on meat, plants or both,so there were three types of dinosaurs according to their diet: herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. There are also still some species whose diet is unknown, since research on the matter has not yet been conclusive.
Feeding herbivorous dinosaurs
Despite the fearsome image that we can have of these animals, there were not a few dinosaurs that fed exclusively on plants, for which they were herbivores and among them more than 180 species of this have been identified Type. Some examples of herbivorous dinosaurs are:
- Achelousaurus: This genus, identified in 1995 and found in the United States, measured about 6 meters in length and about 3 meters in length, and it had as a characteristic feature the presence of various bony protuberances on the head and a kind of beak very similar to that of modern parrots. Its name means "reptile of Achelou".
- Ammosaurus: This sauropod is about 4 meters tall, which, although it seems like a great height, it really wasn't when compared with other species of dinosaurs. It is commonly known as a sand lizard and was found in North America.
- Archaeoceratops: its name means "ancient face with horns", it was found in China and it is estimated to have been 1.3 meters tall. height. It was an older dinosaur than many others, with the peculiarity of being able to assume the bipedal or quadrupedal form.
- Gasparinisaura: Only one species of this genus has been identified, which was found in Argentina. This animal was less than a meter tall and is commonly known as Gasparini's lizard.
- Vulcanodon: volcano tooth, as it is also known, was found in Zimbabwe and despite measuring about 6.5 meters in tall he was not the biggest of his group. Its head and tail were quite long and its posture was quadrupedal.
What did herbivorous dinosaurs eat?
Herbivorous dinosaurs ate a wide variety of plants or parts of plants, from which they obtained their nutrients. Their large bodies were anatomically and physiologically adapted for this type of feeding, which consisted of fresh leaves or shoots located in the upper parts of the trees. They also ate fruits, needle-like coniferous leaves, ginkgoes, and prairie vegetation.
Other examples of herbivorous dinosaurs
In addition to the aforementioned herbivorous dinosaurs, the following also stand out:
- Albertaceratops.
- Datousaurus.
- Mamenchisaurus.
- Valdosaurus.
- Zuniceratops.
Feeding carnivorous dinosaurs
Many dinosaurs were capable of consuming all kinds of animals, from mammals to insects, having an exclusively carnivorous diet. Some examples of carnivorous dinosaurs are:
- Arqueoptérix: its name means "ancient wing", it was a small dinosaur of about 0.5 meters, bipedal, with the capacity to to fly. It had many conical teeth in the upper jaw. It was found in Germany and apparently its diet consisted of small reptiles, mammals and insects.
- Giganotosaurus: known as the southern giant lizard, it moved on two legs and estimates indicate that it was about 12.5 meters long. height. It was found in Argentina. Its teeth were adapted for slicing, as they were blade-shaped. It ate animals including other dinosaurs.
- Microraptor: it was found in China, with an approximate height of 0.8 meters, small and sharp teeth with which it devoured small animals and insects. It had the ability to fly, as it had long feathers on its body. He is known as a small looter.
- Tyrannosaurus: one of the dinosaurs that must have been the most feared by the rest of the animals of the moment, including other dinosaurs, an aspect that relates to the meaning of his name, "tyrant lizard". It had 60 sharp and pointed teeth capable of crushing bone thanks to its powerful bite. Studies have shown bite marks on tyrannosaur bone caused by other individuals of the species, showing that they were fighting each other. It consumed other animals, including dinosaurs, was about 12 meters tall and was found in the United States and Canada.
- Velociraptor: His name means "swift" and he had sharp, pointed teeth about 1.8 meters tall. It was located in Mongolia. More recent investigations estimate that these had a thin layer on the body similar to a plumage. Studies have also shown that this animal was capable of devouring other dinosaurs, since fossils have been found with remains of bones belonging to other species.
What did carnivorous dinosaurs eat?
The fossilized feces of dinosaurs have made it possible to identify the type of food they ate. Thus it has been possible to discover that carnivorous dinosaurs had a varied diet based on other animals. The food of carnivorous dinosaurs could consist of mammals, fish, insects and even other dinosaurs
Some fed on carrion, others were active hunters of live prey, and certain species had a specific diet that was based on aquatic animals.
Other examples of carnivorous dinosaurs
Within carnivorous dinosaurs, we also find these other species:
- Abelisaurus.
- Daspletosaurus.
- Dubreuillosaurus.
- Rugops.
- Staurikosaurus.
Feeding omnivorous dinosaurs
Paleontological studies have shown that a group of dinosaurs were adapted to consume both animals and plants, which is why they are considered omnivorous animals. Some examples of omnivorous dinosaurs are:
- Caudipteryx: It moved on two legs and was omnivorous with sharp teeth. It was about 1 meter tall, it was found in China and its name means "feather tail".
- Coloradisaurus: found in Argentina and known as the Colorado lizard, it had an estimated height of 4 meters and consumed animals and plants.
- Harpymimus: Known as a harpy mimic, it was found in Mongolia and was about 2 meters long with small, sharp teeth.
- Struthiomimus: similar in appearance to the current ostrich, from which its name originates, ostrich imitator, it was found in Canada with some 4 meters in length. It had no teeth, but the presence of a beak and moved on two legs.
- Thecodontosaurus: Its name means "lock-toothed lizard" and it was found in England. It could consume plants or animals and was approximately 2.5 meters tall.
What did omnivorous dinosaurs eat?
Omnivorous dinosaurs did not have a digestive system as specialized as a herbivore or a carnivore, so although they could feed on both plants and animals, they were not capable of doing so extensively. Thus, omnivorous dinosaurs consumed soft parts of plants, such as fruits or seeds, so that they were structures that did not have high amounts of cellulose. As for the animals, they fed on small mammals or lizards, as well as insects.
Other examples of omnivorous dinosaurs
Other omnivorous dinosaurs were as follows:
- Avimimus.
- Dromiceiomimus.
- Nanshiungosaurus.
- Oviraptor.
- Yunnanosaurus.
Dinosaurs have inspired many stories and famous movies that do not always show real data about these animals, however, scientists in various parts of the world make tireless efforts to continue studying them and communicating their findings so that we know more about these vertebrates that ceased to exist millions of years ago.
Now that you know what dinosaurs ate, you may be interested in this other article on our site about How did dinosaurs reproduce and were born?
