Speculative drawing of the Diamantinasaurus with fleshy lips and long, toothless jaws. This giant herbivorous dinosaur was the largest known dinosaur to walk on earth and lived in Australia during mid-Cretaceous period, about 101 to 94 million years ago. The research focuses on a fossilized specimen nicknamed Judy, which is the most complete Diamantinasaurus skeleton ever discovered. This finding opens a window into the enormous herbivore’s diet. Finally, it provides some insight into how its unusual dentition helped it filter-feed so well.
The Diamantinasaurus was part of the sauropod family of dinosaurs. These huge animals dominated world ecosystems from roughly 201 million years ago, until the dinosaurs were wiped out 66 million years ago. Judy, a sub-adult specimen, was estimated at 11 to 12 meters long. Fully grown males could grow as large as 52 feet and stood about 8.2 feet tall at the shoulder.
In 2017, scientists found Judy’s remains at Belmont Station close to Winton, Australia. They discovered fossilized intestinal contents, known as cololite, which provided vital clues about her diet. The results suggest that Diamantinasaurus had a diet consisting mainly of soft foliage. These plants flourished in Australia’s humidity drenched flood plains hey day.
Unique Dental Structure
Diamantinasaurus dental morphology further paved the way for its feeding strategy. Its flat, grinding teeth were a clear indication it was an effective plant eater. The researchers’ most surprising finding was that the dinosaur’s mouth functioned like a “Swiss Army knife.” This novel apparatus provides interchangeable instruments for digesting a wide range of plant material.
“Imagine a Swiss Army knife in your mouth; no matter the plant, you have the right tool for the job.” – Dr. Woodruff
It’s likely this diversity of adaptation that made Diamantinasaurus able to chew up more forms of plant material. We have some evidence that Judy may have fed on conifers, gingkos, and seed ferns. These plants flourished in her environment. The study shows that how this dinosaur fed probably changed with age. This reversal in the trend reflects the patterns seen in contemporary herbivores.
“So it’s kind of cool to think that sauropods would have changed their diet as they grew up, just as many animals do.” – Stephen Poropat
The research suggests that Judy was undergoing a dietary transition. While she could not reach the tops of conifer trees like adult Diamantinasaurus, she began to incorporate conifer foliage into her diet, demonstrating her adaptability and growth.
Fossilized Gut Contents
The identification of cololite inside Judy’s remains is a momentous breakthrough in the field of paleontological research, education, and advocacy. The cololite had the impressions of decayed plants, giving us tangible proof of the exact type of flora Diamantinasaurus munched on.
“The tricky part here was proving the plant material wasn’t just random debris, and here the authors make a strong case, especially with evidence of the plants being sealed inside mineralised skin.” – Martin Qvarnström
Researchers consider the preservation of both gut contents and skin from Judy’s remains to be both highly unusual and invaluable. This unique situation allows them to get an insight into the eating patterns of these prehistoric beings.
“The preservation of both gut contents and skin is unusual.” – Martin Qvarnström
This discovery plays an important role in expanding our view of the ecosystem where Diamantinasaurus lived and flourished. When this dinosaur lived, Australia was situated closer to the South Pole, and what is currently known as outback terrain would have been a lush, wet flood plain, teeming with diverse plant life.
Implications for Understanding Evolution
The discoveries related to Judy and Diamantinasaurus mark a key chapter in the evolutionary tale of Australia. Scientists are learning more about this unique dinosaur’s lifestyle and habitat. They are equally interested in what these discoveries say about the drastic change of life on this continent over the course of millions of years.
“We want to tell the story of Australian evolution as how from the very first life forms how Australian life has changed over millions of years.” – David Elliott
The research deepens our knowledge of Diamantinasaurus. It opens the door for more study into the dietary habits of other dinosaurs. Researchers are already hard at work, investigating discoveries from Judy’s exceptionally well-preserved remains. They want to learn more about how these ancient creatures were adapting to their environments as they evolved over time.
