When we think about dinosaurs, the first images that pop into our mind are those of giant and ferocious beasts that have a lot of meat on their menu. While a lot of dinosaurs were indeed carnivorous, an important portion of them actually preferred plants on their “tables” instead.
The dinosaurs have been roaming the surface of the world for about 165 million years. There are about 700 known species of dinosaurs that went extinct. Roughly 60 million years ago, a giant asteroid smashed into the Earth and led to the extinction of those giant animals.
It’s time to speak about those dinosaurs that were more special, meaning those that went vegan by default:
Triceratops
Triceratops represented herbivorous dinosaurs that were known for their distinctive three-horned skull and frill. These species of dinosaurs lived during the Late Cretaceous period, meaning around 68 to 66 million years ago.
Triceratops were quadrupedal animals with a bulky body and a beak-like mouth that was used for cropping vegetation.
Diplodocus:
Diplodocus lived during the Late Jurassic period, and it is known as a long-necked herbivorous dinosaur with a small head, a long tail, and also a whip-like tail that may have been used for defensive purposes.
Diplodocus also had a relatively small brain and a simple, peg-like arrangement of teeth, which suggests that the animal fed on soft vegetation.
Hadrosaurus:
Hadrosaurus was also known as the “duck-billed dinosaur,” and it lived during the Late Cretaceous period, meaning about 80 to 65 million years ago.
Hadrosaurus was characterized by its flattened and duck-like snout and rows of teeth that the animal used for grinding plant material.
Hadrosaurus was among the most successful herbivorous dinosaurs that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, as numerous species were found across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Ankylosaurus:
Ankylosaurus was known as a heavily armored herbivorous dinosaur that also lived during the Late Cretaceous period. This creature had thick and bony plates covering much of its body, as well as a tail club that was composed of fused vertebrae.
Ankylosaurus had a low-slung body and a broad and herbivorous skull, which means that the animal fed on low-growing vegetation.
Camarasaurus:
Camarasaurus are a species of dinosaurs that have been roaming the surface of the Earth during the Late Jurassic period, meaning 155 to 145 million years ago. This was another long-necked herbivorous dinosaur that had a relatively short tail and a small head with chisel-like teeth that were likely used for cropping vegetation.
Despite its size, Camarasaurus had a relatively light build and may have been a fast runner, meaning that he was capable of escaping predators.
Apatosaurus:
Apatosaurus is a species of dinosaur formerly known as Brontosaurus, and it lived during the Late Jurassic period, meaning around 154 million to 152 million years ago.
Apatosaurus was a massive dinosaur with a long neck, a small head, a long tail, and a bulky body that was supported by four sturdy legs.
Dinosaurs represented very diverse animals, and it’s nice to conclude that not all of them would have been willing to tear us apart if they were still alive today.
