triceratops ate meat?

[copper]

i stumbled upon a site that says (among other things) triceratops may have been partially carnivorous.

have i missed something important?


short take from the text:
After examining the beak and jaws, paleontologists reached the conclusion that Triceratops may have been partially carnivorous, probably scavenging after T-Rex, or even scaring smaller predators away from their kills. Its strong jaws were able to crush bone and flesh as easily as they could grind plant material.

here's the original site:
listverse.com/2011/02/22/top-10-dinosaurs-that-arent-what-they-were/

[sbell]

Sept 28, 2011 17:34:56 GMT copper said:

i stumbled upon a site that says (among other things) triceratops may have been partially carnivorous.

have i missed something important?


short take from the text:
After examining the beak and jaws, paleontologists reached the conclusion that Triceratops may have been partially carnivorous, probably scavenging after T-Rex, or even scaring smaller predators away from their kills. Its strong jaws were able to crush bone and flesh as easily as they could grind plant material.

here's the original site:
listverse.com/2011/02/22/top-10-dinosaurs-that-arent-what-they-were/

You are aware that you are quoting listverse, right?

But to answer your question, there has been speculation that some ornithischians (notably some ceratopsians and pachycephalosaurs) may have been omnivorous, with a substantial predilection for plants (kind of like giant pandas).

As with any behavioural thing, though, it will remain speculation until someone can figure out how to test it.

[Horridus]

Seems like a good excuse to bring this up:


Ha ha! Charade you are by Mark Witton, on Flickr

[arioch]

And those horns would have need lots of calcium...

[Griffin]

Herbivores will chew on animal material pretty frequently if they need the minerals. Just look at rodents that chew on antlers and bones of large animals. At the zoo I work at we put the Elk's shed antlers in with our porcupine to chew on. I know of a box turtle who's shell had gnaw marks from a squirrel. Deer on an island off of Scotland (I think) will sometimes nab bird fledglings as well if they are low on vitamins.

Is there any proof of ceratopsids eating meat? No. But i wouldn't say its impossible.

[gwangi]

Sept 28, 2011 19:05:33 GMT Griffin said:

Herbivores will chew on animal material pretty frequently if they need the minerals. Just look at rodents that chew on antlers and bones of large animals. At the zoo I work at we put the Elk's shed antlers in with our porcupine to chew on. I know of a box turtle who's shell had gnaw marks from a squirrel. Deer on an island off of Scotland (I think) will sometimes nab bird fledglings as well if they are low on vitamins.

Is there any proof of ceratopsids eating meat? No. But i wouldn't say its impossible.

Rodents aside, because they need the calcium and something to grind their teeth on there are many herbivores that will on occasion take it meat. Horses, cattle, deer and even elephants are some examples.

[copper]

Sept 28, 2011 19:05:33 GMT Griffin said:

Herbivores will chew on animal material pretty frequently if they need the minerals. Just look at rodents that chew on antlers and bones of large animals. At the zoo I work at we put the Elk's shed antlers in with our porcupine to chew on. I know of a box turtle who's shell had gnaw marks from a squirrel. Deer on an island off of Scotland (I think) will sometimes nab bird fledglings as well if they are low on vitamins.

Is there any proof of ceratopsids eating meat? No. But i wouldn't say its impossible.

thank you, with that information this all makes perfect sense.

[copper]

Sept 28, 2011 18:03:28 GMT sbell said:

Sept 28, 2011 17:34:56 GMT copper said:

i stumbled upon a site that says (among other things) triceratops may have been partially carnivorous.

have i missed something important?


short take from the text:
After examining the beak and jaws, paleontologists reached the conclusion that Triceratops may have been partially carnivorous, probably scavenging after T-Rex, or even scaring smaller predators away from their kills. Its strong jaws were able to crush bone and flesh as easily as they could grind plant material.

here's the original site:
listverse.com/2011/02/22/top-10-dinosaurs-that-arent-what-they-were/

You are aware that you are quoting listverse, right?

But to answer your question, there has been speculation that some ornithischians (notably some ceratopsians and pachycephalosaurs) may have been omnivorous, with a substantial predilection for plants (kind of like giant pandas).

As with any behavioural thing, though, it will remain speculation until someone can figure out how to test it.

yes, i am aware what the site is, i use stumble upon when i'm bored and it brought up that site.

[Griffin]

Sept 28, 2011 20:36:22 GMT gwangi said:

Sept 28, 2011 19:05:33 GMT Griffin said:

Herbivores will chew on animal material pretty frequently if they need the minerals. Just look at rodents that chew on antlers and bones of large animals. At the zoo I work at we put the Elk's shed antlers in with our porcupine to chew on. I know of a box turtle who's shell had gnaw marks from a squirrel. Deer on an island off of Scotland (I think) will sometimes nab bird fledglings as well if they are low on vitamins.

Is there any proof of ceratopsids eating meat? No. But i wouldn't say its impossible.

Rodents aside, because they need the calcium and something to grind their teeth on there are many herbivores that will on occasion take it meat. Horses, cattle, deer and even elephants are some examples.

I mentioned deer

[gwangi]

so you did...

[paleoferroequine]

Don't ferget hungry, hungry hippos! ;D

[bfler]

If they would had been mammals it could be that they did need some proteins when they during pregnancy and after birth of their children.

Don't Ceratopsians have some sort of dental batteries for chewing plant material? In that case I would say it is unlikely that they ate flesh.

[Griffin]

The dental batteries serve the same purpose as molars in mammals.

Female reptiles need extra vitamins as well for when they lay eggs. Also many times juveniles of seemingly herbivorous species will eat meat I suppose to help promote growth. Green Iguana is the easiest example that comes to mind.

[Horridus]

Apparently, ceratopsian dental batteries acted in more of a 'shearing' motion rather than a 'grinding' motion as in ornithopods. In fact, rather like the teeth of cats and dogs.

As far as needing protein goes, don't forget the honkin' great horn-covered protrusions sticking out of their heads.

[paleoferroequine]

Sept 29, 2011 19:08:30 GMT Horridus said:

Apparently, ceratopsian dental batteries acted in more of a 'shearing' motion rather than a 'grinding' motion as in ornithopods. In fact, rather like the teeth of cats and dogs.

As far as needing protein goes, don't forget the honkin' great horn-covered protrusions sticking out of their heads.

Ahh, you beat me to it .

Psittacosaurus interestingly lacked these teeth and had grinding ones instead and the only known instance of gastroliths in a ceratopsian. But, bovids also have honkin' great horn-covered protrusions sticking out of their heads ( no frills of course) and they are not known (usually) for being omnivorous. Having said this however I do believe that more advanced ceratopsians probably did gnaw on bits of bone and flesh occasionally. ;D

[Horridus]

Mate. Cows have been VIDEOED eating baby birds. youtu.be/R9vxHN8_jSE

[paleoferroequine]

Sept 29, 2011 21:38:48 GMT Horridus said:

Mate. Cows have been VIDEOED eating baby birds. youtu.be/R9vxHN8_jSE

Didn't disagree, that's why I added "usually". Plus all sorts of stuff can get hoovered in when they graze. Also put a herbivore in a harsh environment which is calcium deficient and they may supplement their diet with crispy critters. I've seen a video of a hippo driving a lion off of a buffalo carcass and dine on the entrails.

[Horridus]

Hippos are quite famous for snacking on animal carcasses, especially under stressful conditions.

[eriorguez]

Entelodontids are pretty much cursorial land hippos, and well... yeah. (no, they are not pigs, they are in the whale branch)

[bfler]

Hm, what do we see next? A group of Triceratops hunting and eating T-Rex.