For the first time, scientists have analyzed the gut contents of a sauropod dinosaur fossil, revealing its diet in unprecedented detail. The analysis, published in Current Biology, sheds new light on the feeding habits of these massive herbivores, which roamed the Earth for over 130 million years.
According to the study, Diamantinasaurus matildae, a species of sauropod that lived around 94 million years ago, ate a variety of plants from different heights above ground. The fossilized gut contents found in the specimen nicknamed Judy contained pinnules and bracts from tall conifer trees, as well as leaves and fruiting bodies from smaller seed ferns and flowering plants.
The researchers, led by Dr. Stephen Poropat, used advanced organic geochemical techniques to identify the presence of angiosperms (flowering plants) and gymnosperms (conifers) in Judy’s diet. The findings suggest that sauropods were bulk-feeders, swallowing their food whole and relying on their gut microbes for digestion.
The analysis provides valuable insights into the paleobiology of sauropod dinosaurs, which played a crucial role in shaping Mesozoic ecosystems. Understanding their diet is essential to understanding their impact on plant diversity and other herbivorous species throughout Earth’s history.
While the study confirms previous hypotheses about sauropod feeding habits, further research is needed to determine whether their diets changed as they matured. The discovery of Judy’s fossilized gut contents marks a significant milestone in the field of paleontology, offering new avenues for investigation into the biology and ecology of these fascinating creatures.
Source: https://www.sci.news/paleontology/sauropod-dinosaur-fossilized-gut-contents-13971.html