Buzz
Dinosaurs ruled the Earth for nearly two centuries, terrifying smaller creatures. Unfortunately, many aspects of their daily routines are lost to history—unless, of course, a dependable time machine is invented.
But don't let that get you down—scientists are excellent at extracting a wealth of knowledge from even the most seemingly insignificant remains. From digestive issues to courtship rituals, these glimpses into dinosaur life probably won’t be featured in the next Jurassic Park.
10. They Endured Parasites And Stomach Ulcers
Fossilized excrement, or coprolites, provide surprisingly valuable insights into their lives.
The ancient excrement reveals that these fearsome reptiles suffered from the same ailment as your cat: parasites. Fossilized feces from an Iguanodon burial site in Belgium were found to contain cyst-forming Entamoeba parasites, along with trematode and nematode worm eggs—parasites that have remained largely unchanged for over 125 million years.
Even the mighty T. rex wasn't spared from these tiny invaders. Occasionally, researchers have discovered holes in Tyrannosaurus jaws, which they attribute to protozoans, single-celled parasites that cause ulcers and lesions in the mouth and throat.
9. Some Terrestrial Dinosaurs Pursued Their Prey Through Water
As if the carnivores weren’t frightening enough, evidence suggests that some could even chase their prey through water.
One such moment is captured on the riverbed of Szechuan Province. It’s left behind by a theropod, a smaller, three-toed predator akin to T. rex. It swam for approximately 15 meters (50 feet), leaving behind a trail of claw marks as it chased prey that leapt into the water.
Each mark displays the distinct impression of three parallel claws. And these weren't made in a random, chaotic manner like a cat in a bathtub, but rather in a precise, left-right, left-right pattern.
Not only were theropods skilled hunters on land, but they were also adept swimmers. It’s possible that swimming was an instinctual behavior for certain dinosaurs, much like it is for dogs.
8. Nonflying Bird-like Dinosaurs Preyed on Flying Bird-like Dinosaurs
Researchers discovered two Sinocalliopteryx so perfectly preserved that their final meals were still visible.
Sinocalliopteryx was related to Compsognathus, the ankle-biting “Compy” from Jurassic Park and Dino Crisis. However, Sinocalliopteryx was larger, growing up to 2.4 meters (8 feet) in length, and covered in a light feathery fuzz. While it couldn't fly, it hunted creatures that could.
Inside one Sinocalliopteryx stomach, researchers found remains of Sinornithosaurus, a small, feathered theropod capable of brief flights. The other Sinocalliopteryx contained two crow-sized, primitive flyers called Confuciusornis.
Although the avian meals might have been scavenged, their similar state of digestion suggests that Sinocalliopteryx was a proficient predator that hunted early birds of the Cretaceous around 125 million years ago.
7. Sauropods Had Specialized Claws for Nest Digging
The towering, long-necked sauropods had an unusual claw arrangement that set them apart from other animals. When they flexed their feet, their claws aligned at the front like scrapers.
Sauropod footprints challenge the better grip hypothesis, as their claws were not “engaged.” Instead, it’s believed that sauropods used their scraper-like claws to dig out trench-like nests to protect their eggs.
Sauropods might have been surprisingly good dancers. Researchers examined additional footprints in Morocco and recreated the dinosaur tracks, discovering that the prints occasionally faced sideways or even nearly backward.
Before their evolution into massive creatures, the more agile sauropods were able to rotate their forefeet for better agility, adjusting based on walking speed and center of mass.
6. Hadrosaurs Communicated Using Natural Megaphones
Hadrosaurs, the duck-billed dinosaurs, were part of the herbivorous, bird-hipped ornithischian group. These dinosaurs came in both crested and uncrested forms, with the lambeosaurs featuring distinctive crests on their heads.
These crests weren’t just ornamental. Their hollow interior served as a resonating chamber, amplifying the vocalizations of hadrosaurs. This may have helped them coordinate group movements, ward off predators, or attract mates.
Some hadrosaurs, like Edmontosaurus regalis from about 73 million years ago, had a wobbly comb-like structure on their heads. While it didn’t produce sound, it likely indicated reproductive health, age, or helped differentiate species for mating purposes.
5. Some Dinosaurs Made a Living by Stealing Eggs
Oviraptorosaurs, also known as egg thieves, were feathered, beaked, bird-like dinosaurs that included the well-known raptors. While most were fearsome predators, the newest member of this family was much less menacing.
The charming Gobiraptor minutus roamed the Gobi Desert in Mongolia around 70 million years ago, when the area was more of a wetland, teeming with life and crisscrossed by rivers. Unlike many other theropods, G. minutus carved out a niche with an omnivorous diet.
With its sturdy beak and powerful jaws, G. minutus was able to make use of a wide range of food, feeding on small, crunchy snacks like mollusks, seeds, and eggs, rather than tearing into the flesh of its prey or competitors.
4. Triceratops Horns Were More About Attraction Than Combat
The Triceratops and its horned ceratopsian relatives didn’t develop their impressive horns and frills for defense, but rather for a little extra allure.
Scientists believe that the iconic horns and elaborate frills were primarily used to distinguish between species and enhance sexual appeal. Although they might seem like tools for battle or heat regulation, they may have evolved as a more efficient way to avoid mating with the wrong species.
Female Triceratops didn’t waste time with subpar mates. A robust set of frills and horns immediately signaled a male’s genetic health, much like the tail feathers of a peacock.
3. T. rex Was Surprisingly Stealthy
Even with its massive size and seemingly awkward movements, T. rex may have used stealthy, ninja-like tactics to ambush its prey.
Researchers analyzed the footprints of various dinosaurs and ran simulations using their data. The theropod tracks were the most peculiar. They were long and twice as narrow as their length.
They may seem clumsy at first, like trying to run in clown shoes. However, these footprints were perfectly suited for ‘seismic wave camouflage,’ meaning the sound of T. rex footsteps wouldn’t change as it approached. This stealth technique allowed it to sneak up on unsuspecting prey. Other dinosaurs, such as herbivores, didn’t possess this advantage.
+ Young Dinosaurs Lived Unsupervised
The towering sauropods, with their long necks and massive trunks, were the largest terrestrial animals to ever roam the Earth, growing over 30 meters (100 ft) long.
A young Diplodocus named Andrew helps explain how this was possible. Unlike adult sauropods, which had peg-like teeth and wide snouts, the juveniles sported narrow snouts filled with spatula-shaped teeth. While adults were adapted for chewing soft ferns, the young’s spatulate teeth enabled them to tackle tougher vegetation.
Researchers believe these young sauropods lived in age-specific foraging groups without parental supervision, feasting on hard-to-digest plants that others avoided. This solitary lifestyle also helped them stay clear of the adults' massive feet.
2. Some Dinosaurs Were Night Owls
Certain vertebrates, such as birds and lizards, possess a bony structure surrounding their eyes, known as the sclerotic ring. Daytime animals have smaller sclerotic rings and pupils, which limit the amount of light entering the eye but enhance focus clarity.
In contrast, nocturnal creatures have larger sclerotic rings and wide pupils, which allow them to capture more light, providing better visibility in low-light environments.
Fossilized sclerotic rings suggest that the enormous, long-necked herbivores roamed both day and night, likely foraging during the cooler dawn and dusk periods. Meanwhile, raptors and other carnivores likely hunted under the cover of darkness.
Coupled with the fact that some dinosaurs were capable swimmers, these insights make the Mesozoic era seem even more frightening.
1. Dinosaurs Participated in Birdlike Courtship Rituals
While the specifics of dinosaur reproduction remain unclear, it seems that in at least one aspect, their behavior mirrored that of birds. This discovery comes from a series of ancient tracks carved into a slab of limestone dating back 100 million years.
The “scrape-like dinosaur tracks” are bathtub-deep, extending over 1.8 meters (6 feet) in width, and intriguingly end with a claw mark. These 50 or so tracks, found in pairs, left researchers puzzled.
Researchers later recalled that modern birds make similar marks as part of their mating rituals. Males often show off by scratching the ground to demonstrate their ability to build nests, aiming to impress females. If these tracks were indeed the result of “pseudo-nest-building” courtship, they could be the first indication of dinosaur mating behavior.
++ Some Dinosaurs Were Surprisingly Tiny
While the term “raptor” often conjures images of fearsome predators, a set of recently discovered tracks in South Korea tells the story of a surprisingly cute, sparrow-sized raptor, small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
These miniature footprints, dating back about 110 million years, measure just 1 centimeter (0.4 in) in length. Such tiny prints are a rare find, but these have been remarkably preserved by the Cretaceous lake deposits, which also protected similar-sized tracks left by frogs, birds, and turtles.
These tracks are the tiniest dinosaur footprints ever discovered, and they point to a raptorial creature. One claw is lifted or retracted while the other two touch the ground. If the newly identified Dromaeosauriformipes rarus is a distinct species rather than a chick, it would be the smallest dinosaur yet.
