Among the many different dinosaurs that existed, there are several species that have been named as herbivores. These include the Apatosaurus, the Therizinosaurs, and the Diplodocus.
Triceratops
During the Late Cretaceous Period, a giant herbivore called Triceratops lived in North America. It was a quadrupedal animal that could be up to 30 feet long and weighed between 6.1 and 12.0 tons. This dinosaur was the most common of the herbivores in the region. It specialized in eating plants. It was also believed to have laid eggs.
The name “Triceratops” is derived from Greek words tri-keras, which means three horns. This species was found in 1887 in Denver, Colorado by paleontologist John Bell Hatcher. He collected the holotype from a rancher named Charles Arthur Guernsey.
This dinosaur had a large skull and skull bones that were covered with rows of teeth. These teeth were arranged in stacked columns of thirty to forty teeth, each column being about three to five teeth wide. These stacked teeth are thought to have been used for shearing or grinding thick leafy plants. The number of teeth is unknown, but researchers estimate that it was more than 800.
It was also known to have a huge bony frill on the front of its head. This frill may have been used for visual display or combat. This frill is believed to have been modified as the dinosaur grew. The horns on the snout and nose were smaller than the horns on the brow.
The skull of Triceratops was one of the largest land animals ever to be discovered. It was estimated to be eight and a half feet long. However, a study by Scannella published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology suggests that the skull was only 8.2 feet long.
It is a member of the genus Ceratopsidae. It is a chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaur that was believed to be the most abundant herbivore during the late Cretaceous Period. Several species of this dinosaur are currently known. Some of these species are synonyms or nomen dubium. Traditionally, this species has been placed in the group of “short-filled” ceratopsids. But modern cladistic studies show that it is actually a part of the Chasmosaurinae family.
Other known relatives include the five-horned Pentaceratops and the fancy-frilled Styracosaurus. This species was originally identified as a member of the genus Torosaurus.
Diplodocus
During the late Jurassic period, Diplodocus was an herbivore dinosaur that lived in North America. It was a member of the Sauropod family and weighed between ten and twelve tons.
The name Diplodocus is derived from the Latin word meaning double beamed lizard. It was one of the most studied dinosaurs, and a member of the genus Diplodocidae. There are many museums that display complete fossils of this creature.
Scientists think that Diplodocus may have preferred to live near water. Its hind legs were longer than its forelegs, causing it to lean backwards and downwards from its hips. This would have provided extra support for the body. It also sunk into the water to search for food.
It had a long neck with at least fifteen vertebrae. It also had a long tail, which was composed of around 80 caudal vertebrae. The tail was probably used for defensive purposes. It was also thought to have served as a counterweight for the neck.
The skull and neck of the diplodocus were relatively large, but they were not very tall. They were about eight metres long. They had a small head at the end of the long neck. Some experts have suggested that the high nasal openings were a result of the Diplodocus having a trunk. It was not known how the neck supported the head, but it is believed that it held the neck at a certain angle.
The teeth of the diplodocus were peg-like and stuck out toward the front of the mouth. They were very different from the teeth of the sauropods. The diplodocuses probably ate small plants such as ferns, grasses, and mosses. The ferns may have been secondary food sources, while the grasses were a primary source.
Diplodocus hatched from herd eggs. During its first few months, it was likely to eat mosses and ferns. Later, it could browse at various levels. It grazed in herds of about 20-30 individuals.
The diet of the diplodocus was mainly determined by its metabolism. It ingested tens of thousands of pounds of plants each day. The nutrient content of the plants was dependent on the age of the plant, but the amount of time spent eating was largely governed by the digestive process. It also spent a lot of time fermenting its food in an expanded gut.
Therizinosaurs
Until the early 1990s, palaeontologists believed that Therizinosaurs were carnivores. This is probably because the long claws that this dinosaur has have been considered as deadly weapons. But a more complete skeleton will reveal the true appearance of this animal.
Therizinosaurs are herbivore dinosaurs, mainly living in Asia during the late Cretaceous Period. They are classified into five genera. They include Falcarius, Therizinosaurus, Alxasaurus, Beipiaosaurus, and Adonissaurus. Therizinosaurs have large, thick bodies and long arms. They are able to grow up to 10-12 meters in length. They are bipedal and have four toes on each foot. They also have a large gut and a pubic bone.
Therizinosaurs are known for their long, scythe-like claws. These claws are the longest claws that any animal has. Several different species of Therizinosaurs have been discovered with claws that are up to three feet in length. Some paleontologists have even suggested that these claws were used to open giant termite nests.
Therizinosaurs are thought to have been very territorial. They may have had unguals, which are a type of fur on the outer sides of the body. They may have also had feathers. Therizinosaurs had a small head and a tall neck.
Some researchers have also claimed that Therizinosaurs had teeth. Some of these teeth were leaf-shaped, which could have helped the dinosaur eat plants. Other scientists have suggested that the dinosaur had a strong craving for plants. They have also suggested that Therizinosaurs lived in herds.
In the mid-1990s, palaeontologists finally figured out how Therizinosaurs looked. They had an unusual mix of characters from across the Dinosaurida. They have been characterized as misfits within the Maniraptora clade. They had short and long claws, as well as small skulls. Therizinosaurs are found throughout Eurasia.
Therizinosaurs were one of the most unique looking dinosaurs ever. Their claws and their diet have baffled palaeontologists for years. This dinosaur was believed to be a turtle-like creature, but it actually turned out to be a large, powerful maniraptoran theropod.
Therizinosaurs were among the last members of their family group. They evolved from carnivores to herbivores. This transition is believed to have occurred early in evolution.