Dinosaurs were mostly vegetarians. New research by scientists at Chicago's Field Museum in Illinois, USA has found that with a few exceptions, dinosaurs were actually vegetarian – a trait that helped to advance their evolution into modern birds. With previous research suggesting that they were carnivores being based on more limited data, the recent study evaluating 90 theropod species revealed almost two dozen anatomical features, including a toothless beak, that provide direct evidence of the dinosaurs’ plant-eating diets. Dr. Lindsay Zanno explained that although they had originally adapted to a predatory lifestyle, somewhere in their evolution they stopped. This, in turn, helped most of them survive in new environments to become the most successful group in the Cretaceous Period, 145-65 million years ago. Dr. Zanno said, “The ability to eat plant materials may have played a pivotal role in allowing Coelurosaurian dinosaurs to achieve such remarkable species diversity.”
Such interesting findings! We appreciate your work, Dr. Zanno and all other researchers involved in this discovery. May humanity be similarly inspired to thrive on plant-based fare for the success of our own and all co-inhabitant species.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/geoffrey-lean/8260784/Dinosaurs-were-peace-loving-veggies.htmlhttp://www.presstv.com/detail/156520.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1340447/Most-dinosaurs-vegetarian-T-rex-just-exception-finds-new-study.html