Last Meal of Sauropod Dinosaur Offers Clues on Its Eating Habits

Quick Summary

• Fossilised gut contents of a sauropod dinosaur, Diamantinasaurus matildae, where studied for teh first time.
• The dinosaur nicknamed Judy was excavated near Winton, Queensland, Australia in May 2017. Judy lived approximately 94 to 101 million years ago.
• Scavengers had disturbed parts of Judy’s remains shortly after her death; however, large sections of her body were preserved intact-including mineralised skin and gut contents containing vegetation.
• Analysis revealed an array of plant material including conifer leaves and fruiting bodies (Araucaria and Austrosequoia wintonensis),as well as unidentified flowering plants. This confirmed that sauropods were herbivores consuming a wide variety of plant species indiscriminately (“bulk feeders”).
• The vegetation was unchewed,indicating the dinosaur used a “snip and swallow” eating method without mastication in the mouth. Like modern herbivores such as elephants or rhinos, it is likely sauropods emitted methane due to their digestion methods.
• Measuring about 11 metres long with a 4-meter neck and 3.3-metre tail, Judy’s remains offer insights into sauropod anatomy not previously available due to better fossil completeness compared to other finds in Australia.
• Judy’s fossilised gut contents are considered groundbreaking evidence confirming the dietary habits of these prehistoric giants.
• Her remains will be displayed at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum starting June 9.

image credits: Travis Tischler (artist impression) | stephen Poropat (fossilised vegetation).