Young Dinosaur Fossil Contains Delicious Remains of Last Meal, Showing Tyrannosaurids Have Different Diets Throughout Life!
A young dinosaur fossil discovered in northern Alberta, Canada, is providing answers to the age-old questions of what different species ate throughout their lives. The fossilised remains show exciting evidence of the dietary habits of tyrannosaurids, a carnivorous group of dinosaurs.
After moments of careful observation, scientists have seen the jaw of an exquisitely preserved baby dinosaur, containing the remains of its last meal. This momentous discovery suggests that even the youngest tyrannosaurids had a diet that differed from their adult counterparts, giving us a closer look at the life of these predators throughout their lifetime.
Tyrannosaurids were an incredibly prominent theropod group of carnivores from the Upper Cretaceous of North America and Asia. Scientists have discovered many fossils in Alberta that show recognisable remains of tyrannosaurids, which have given them clues into the diets of their different life stages.
One fossil, in particular, is making headlines. It is from the young dinosaur Borealopelta markmitchelli, and the vertebrae shows the remains of a fish that this particular juvenile consumed just before its demise. According to Dr. Anthony P. Russel from the Royal Ontario Museum, this is the earliest evidence that Tyrannosaurids had different diets throughout their lifetime.
The fish remains weren’t the only thing that could be observed in the fossil. Upon further examination, the scientists found the fossil to be more than just a fossilised fish: it also showed evidence of what the juvenile Borealopelta markmitchelli had eaten in the months leading up to its death.
There were numerous vertebrae fragments from smaller prey, suggesting that this juvenile was a hunter of smaller creatures, such as lizards and mammals. This is a significant step away from the adult Tyrannosaurus Rex diet that focused on large prey such as triceratops. It seems that even at a young age, Tyrannosaurids viewed the world differently than adults, and had a highly tailored diet depending of their age.
If we look at the fossilized remains of Borealopelta markmitchelli, it provides an incredible insight into the lives of juvenile tyrannosaurids. This kind of discovery allows us to better understand the predatory lifestyle of Tyrannosaurids, and provides evidence that tyrannosaurids had significantly different diets between adulthood and youth.
Physiological differences between adult and juvenile Tyrannosaurids have been discussed before, but this fossil provided a much more detailed look into the particular state of diet and lifestyle as they age. It appears as though even young juveniles had a more species specific diet compared to their elder counterparts.
It could be argued that young Tyrannosaurids had to rely on the skills that they had at their disposal. Their smaller size means that larger prey could be too dangerous for them to hunt, so they would be forced to hunt smaller creatures in order to survive. This finely tuned diet is indicative of the adaptability of carnivores on the prehistoric landscape.
This momentous discovery is providing further evidence that Tyrannosaurids had very different diets throughout their lifetime. With the wealth of information that has been derived from this incredible fossil, researchers are sure to find further evidence over the years that continually provides a thorough understanding of the lives of these iconic predators.
