Scientists succeeded in uncovering the last food of a big and strong dinosaur, as if bringing it 'back to life'. This discovery provides an illustration of how animals interact with the surrounding environment at the end of their lives.
Nodosaurus Borealopelta markmitchelli which weighs 1,300 kilograms consumed its last meal, died, carried into the ocean which is now called Northern Alberta, until it was later discovered at a mining operation in 2011.
Even so, the dinosaur's stomach is well preserved so that the remnants of food the size of a soccer ball are still there.
"The preserved entrails of dinosaurs are very rare. So far, what is found in nodosaurus is the most durable that has ever been found, "said Jim Basinger, research leader and geologist from the University of Saskatchewan (USask).
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Paleontologists speculate that what he consumes determines food preferences during his life — indicating a vegetable-based diet.
Researchers at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaentology, Brandon University, and the University of Saskatchewan (USask), examined thin sections of the entrails of dinosaur stomachs under a microscope. They found that one of the final foods was a large fern leaf, with 88% leaves, and 7% stems and twigs.
The research team said it was very surprising to see "preserved and concentrated plants". Until now, it was unknown what was eaten by herbivorous dinosaurs.
The stomach contents of nodosaurus are found compared to food plants which according to the fossil record grow at the same time in the region.
The stomach contents are also compared to food plants which according to the fossil record are available around the same time in the region. The results show that it is possible that Borealopelta markmitchelli likes to eat large ferns known as leptosporangiate, the largest fern group today. Nodosaurus was thought to not consume cycas or conifer leaves which were commonly found at the time.
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Interestingly, there was also a large amount of charcoal from fragments of plants that burned in their stomachs. Indicates that these animals encroach on burned areas and may consume ferns that grow in fire areas.
The scientists concluded that their findings changed what is known from the diets of large herbivorous dinosaurs. It also helps illuminate how animals interact with their landscape, including what plants they choose to eat.
"When people find out what is the last food of dinosaurs, it is like bringing this animal back to life. Providing fleeting information on how it lives everyday, where it lives, and what food it likes," concluded Basinger.
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