What The Dinosaurs Ate and Why

You've heard of the saying "you are what you eat" but how might that apply to the dinosaurs? In this episode of SciShow, Hank Green takes you on an adventure back to the time of dinosaurs, and unpacks 5 dinosaur meals. Turns out, what these creatures ate can tell us a lot about how they lived!
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Sources:
bioone.org/journals/Paleobiol...
www.sciencedirect.com/science...
journals.plos.org/plosone/art...
www.pnas.org/content/107/7/2972
www.sciencedirect.com/science...
pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2007/3015/
www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/dino-d...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...
geoinfo.nmt.edu/publications/...
www.nytimes.com/2006/09/26/sc...
www.researchgate.net/profile/... opulations/links/54d3d8fb0cf246475803427f/Cannibalism-in-Natural-Populations.pdf
www.nature.com/articles/natur...
www.nature.com/articles/s4159...
www.researchgate.net/publicat...
zslpublications.onlinelibrary...
pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/...
en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFD...
blogs.scientificamerican.com/...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Image Sources:
www.flickr.com/photos/timevan...
journals.plos.org/plosone/art...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
www.nature.com/articles/s4159...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
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[@CuriousMisterG]

You can tell Hank absolutely loved saying Majungasaurus

[@hugoalvord2779]

Doesnt everybody?

[@waynejohnson1786]

It’s my new favourite word

[@Shaden0040]

The hadrsaurs might also have been eating the crustaceans to suppliment their calcium intake especially pre breeding season to help form egg shells for their soon to be laid eggs.

[@pudgeboyardee32]

A brilliant point. Other benefits would also include better tooth health and bone health, as an added bonus. Both of which dinosaurs had plenty of, therefore mustve needed supplies to maintain those vast amounts of calcium. Its thought to be at least part of what drives some pregnant human women to so desperately crave ice cream: it has a high calcium content, as do some other specific foodstuffs. Some you might not immediately expect, like some kinds of hummus, or that garbage australian paste whose name escapes me at the moment, or pickles. Its all really quite very strange. But, to your original point, yes, i think your insight was dead-on the money. Well done. Made me think of my thing too so thanks lol

[@EmjiAmsdaughter]

Sounds plausible! I think my dad sometimes feeds his chickens crushed seashells for extra calcium.

[@_ninthRing_]

@@pudgeboyardee32 I reckon you mean *Vegemite,* mate (which I freely admit - with it's intensely _salty umami_ flavor - is emphatically an aquired taste ⊚). Disparaging it _"garbage"_ is a bit much, though. It's an excellent source of several essential *B* vitamins, such as: • *Thiamin **_(Vitamin B1)_* • *Riboflavin **_(Vitamin B2)_* • *Niacin **_(Vitamin B3)_* & • *Folate **_(Vitamin B9)_* with only a few grams containing a high proportion of an individual's necessary daily intake. In this case, I supect that it's the *Folate* which makes it so attractive to pregnant women - though it's high *Sodium* content means that it needs to be eaten in moderation. ⊚ - FYI - It's best eaten on hot toast, with plenty of *Butter/Margarine* to balance the flavour. I'd recommend 1 tsp *Butter,* to 1/4 tsp *Vegemite* per slice for beginners...

[@lyndsaybrown8471]

It's amazing that dinosaurs not only had talking dinners, but also that those dinners lived to talk to us.

[@katyungodly]

@@louisfalcone5494 ok

[@pamelamays4186]

Dino Dinners sounds like the kids' menu at the restaurant at Universal Studios located near Jurassic Park The Ride. And Swallowed By The Dragon definitely is a metal band name.

[@tanasakkitiamkun1022]

can you imagine dragon as a band name? wow that would be a cool name.

[@dadillen5902]

Come to think of it, it would be a great name for the band that was formed after Swallowed by the Dragon brokenup

[@eseguerito2629]

@@tanasakkitiamkun1022 Psst. Look up DragonForce.

[@jahmd8377]

There is something about saying the name “Majungasaurus” that is extremely satisfying.

[@siyacer]

Mojang, mahjong

[@keagan0000]

I paused my girlfriend's red dead redemption game to show her that name😂

[@terryenby2304]

Sounds like a Harry Potter character.

[@sharonballantyne1735]

ookkkaaayy.🤔

[@tiffyw92]

@@siyacer Now I'm picturing 4 Majungasauruses crouched around a giant flat rock playing with smaller rocks that are their tiles. Whoever wins gets the pot: a fresh carcass.

[@dimitraBlissDk]

Thanks for helping me cope with this tough time. Learning new things helps me not to obsess and panic. I can't thank you enough.

[@kraneiathedancingdryad6333]

How are you doing dear? I don't know you but I feel your pain. Sending hugs 🤗🤗🤗

[@HH-lr2zt]

Why does Jehol Biota sound like an unexplored planet in Star Wars?

[@Blitzo2876]

May the force be with you.

[@robertmcgovern8850]

Home of Jehol Enchiladasaur, got its last meal from a Cretaceous food truck.

[@badataim2316]

I can't wait to get a PHD in paleontology. This stuff is amazing!!

[@smokymcbongwater1088]

Then again one would need a degree in dumbassery to employ these losers.

[@habibainunsyifaf6463]

Are you on the ancient animals or vegetations?

[@badataim2316]

Habib Ainun Syifa F ancient animals are the best but the foliage is also important

[@mailasun]

Yeah, I was also like you 20 years ago. Then reality kicked in when I chose my major in college.

[@RikoJAmado]

@@mailasun 20 years ago, when you wanted to be paleontologist, you were 5 years old? :-D

[@KnighteMinistriez]

I like learning. Keep up the good work.

[@piercedsiren]

Scientist later studying what ancient humans ate: It seems they ate ... Everything. Even things that would poison them for some reason ???... Must have under developped brains.

[@averyjenson]

they ate,,, laundry detergent?

[@wizardtim8573]

They... ate lead... laundry detergent... brewed poisons and drank them... ... Well the lead may have affected their brains so~

[@afrog2666]

I only eat vegans, I`m on a grass fed organic diet ;)

[@celinak5062]

@@afrog2666 u should eat their spawn, less bioaccumulation

[@ginnyjollykidd]

Hot peppers have capsaicin in them as a defense mechanism, but we humans eat them like dill pickles, even wagering on who can eat the most of the hottest peppers. Who's stupid?

[@maan7715]

I'm so glad you are still able to do quality videos. Tho it's interesting to see how everybody is getting a beard and longer hair! XD

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

Confuciasornus say: I want you to be everything that's you, deep at the center of your being.

[@robertr.hasspacher7731]

Confuciasornus say: Bone that lie in dinosaur stomach sometimes have stone to contend with!

[@bloodandempire]

😂😂😂

[@RikoJAmado]

Confuciasornus say: "You are what you eat." T-rex: "Well I AM already a dinosaur, soooo...."

[@_DiJiT]

The poor Coelophysis didn't deserve to be treated like this :'(

[@sdfkjgh]

Daniel Tolbert: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apzNip5oeNeEfJo

[@maltheopia]

That Coelophysis was cheating on her taxes for seven years.

[@lordgarion514]

*Hank* "It's no easy feat to catch a bird". *House Cats* "Not that hard actually."

[@abbyshort1185]

Robert Pruitt my cat: I’ve kill one twice my size. It was an owl Me: why did you do that? My cat: I wanted to Dogs: I am going to eat this now Me: no no no don’t do that it’s been dead for days!

[@BloodSprite-tan]

apparently house cats are ruthless trained assassins.

[@michaelgrossman5059]

Super easy, barely an inconvenience

[@RikoJAmado]

My strictly indoor cat: "Not that hard? The grass is lava! The grass is lava!"

[@caydenhoward273]

Finally something not Covid related

[@eagle1onoteagle10]

And of course you just have to bring it up and make it be 😷 lol jk

[@TheDuffman1812]

I some times think of what’s beneath me at different locations. Like anything could be buried underground.

[@cthulhuhasrisen1009]

Or a sinkhole that is about to swallow you whole.

[@marxtheenigma873]

Imagine if there were still dinosaurs everywhere. We'd be yelling at them to stop eating our driveway rocks.

[@keithharper32]

well, technically there are dinosaurs everywhere. they're just usually to small to eat our driveway gravel

[@3possumsinatrenchcoat]

well, unless you have a scourge of ostriches running around your property for some reason...

[@nroke1684]

keithharper32 well, they do sometimes, you just don’t notice.

[@3possumsinatrenchcoat]

@Bring Peter Griffin to Super Smash Bros ....that's classified

[@mikejones-vd3fg]

@@3possumsinatrenchcoat so youre an illegal ostrich dealer.... hah! figure you out, 3 possums in a trenchoat? ill take 2 how much?

[@Iisa1010]

I am sitting here with a huge grin on my face. I digged for fossils in that area in China. Those videos also help me to get motivated again. so thank you very much :D

[@robertcowley-yamamoto4880]

I can attest to canabalism in modern dinos. If we had a chicken or chick die, the others in the flock often ate parts of them before we could dispose of them

[@MarinoHorvat]

Plus try to give chicken nuggets to some birds and just watch

[@unicornswag888]

*_Dang, these guys didn't even have creatine._*

[@alexanderthehalfdragon3826]

Muscle Hank it’s been so long since I have seen muscle hank

[@mailasun]

I saw you on the CNN Channel the other day

[@ginnyjollykidd]

Just as well. *CREATINE IS A WASTE PRODUCT! QUIT TAKING IT! YOUR KIDNEYS EXCRETE IT AND IT ONLY MAKES YOUR KIDNEYS WORK OVERTIME!*

[@Q_QQ_Q]

muscle hank is the saviour

[@s3cr3tpassword]

i hope this brings back all the hanks

[@maddy6764]

Please PLEASE more dinosaur content!

[@Blitzo2876]

I'd rather see more of you. :)

[@robertr.hasspacher7731]

Thanks Scishow! You guys are singularly awesome!!

[@dereklam1225]

12:10 Uhh, either rocks with digestible calcium are _everywhere_, or birds are better geologists than I am. Really not like the second one is saying much.

[@zemorph42]

Put the punctuation inside the underscore and it will work.

[@matthewlofton8465]

Or perhaps they were so far gone in terms of malnutrition that they instinctively went after stuff that would fulfill that need. The human body is able to change how things taste based on what nutrients you need, allowing you to stomach edibles that you normally would turn your nose up at (or have a more extreme reaction to like "eww, gross!" or immediate vomiting)..and that's assuming there's nothing wrong with you like those special individuals who drink bleach or consume body waste.

[@Markle2k]

@@zemorph42 _Really?_ edit: Yes, really. I've been putting a space between the end of the word font modifier and the punctuation to get that *effect* .

[@abbyshort1185]

Well apparently my body has decided that I no longer Need to eat because ALL FOOD IS GROSS. Like really now out of all you could decide to do

[@killernat1234]

Ah 2019, such a good year, but so long ago

[@KOKO-uu7yd]

2020 - the year that did the impossible. It made me long for "good ol' 2019"!😓🤪😝

[@killernat1234]

KOKO ** 2020 makes 2019 look like the greatest year ever, it also makes 2019 seem like years ago

[@greyturner3114]

awesome, as always! 😄

[@joshuagarcia1069]

3 weeks ago I chose to write a paper on Dietary Habits of Dinos from the Cretaceous for my Geog325 class. Thank you for citing your sources!!!

[@anyascelticcreations]

I think this is one of my favorite episodes yet. 👍

[@AlanDampog]

that shirt sparkles nicely!

[@Eneov]

Never thought about this, thanks!

[@daniellaytonmusic9865]

I very much enjoyed the way hank said "turds".

[@amandajones661]

Hank is so amazing.

[@macnutz4206]

Horses will eat frogs. I watched Clydesdales eat frogs, quite intentionally, whilst grazing. The farmer who owned the horses told me that over the years he had seen horses and cows eat frogs and small reptiles and big insects in the grass. Not by accident. going after something leaping or sliding out of a tuft of grass and snapping it right up. I was very grossed out the first time I saw it. You haven't really lived until you have gone to the field in a hung over state at five AM saturday morning, to plow twenty acres with a Clydesdale that raises and crooks its tail and farts in your face, ever five minutes or so. Its not the smell that gets you, as much as the little bits of pooh shot ten to fifteen feet , into your face. I blame social isolation for the urge to write that. 😜

[@KOKO-uu7yd]

That gave me such a chuckle! And brought up some of my own memories, so... "Thanks Social Isolation!"😆👍

[@spicat16]

Hahaha 😂😂😂I get what you mean though. ... horses can be gross

[@bluesap7318]

I’ve seen deer crunching on baby birds.

[@macnutz4206]

@@spicat16 I love them but they can be very gross in lots of ways. If you want gross, I nearly gagged the first time I saw my beautiful tri colour border collie, Bimbo, cheerfully snacking away at horse droppings. Poor Bimbo, he didn't get many kisses after that. Interesting factoid The word bimbo originated in Edwardian England and referred to useless obnoxious aristocratic young men, of the Berty Wooster variety. It was American gangster slag that turned it into a dumb blond reference, in the twenties. I prefer the original meaning.

[@oldman0995]

All of a sudden I like my job more

[@busch6538]

I found a mussel inside a rock about 2 months ago I know it's not the same but it's still pretty cool

[@MrRad]

Busch cracker I'm sorry what?

[@heatherb812]

did you mean to say... a mussel?

[@busch6538]

@@heatherb812 thank you for that correction "damn autocorrect"

[@busch6538]

@@MrRad I meant to say mussel " damn autocorrect"

[@soonny002]

Majungasaurus... (great, now I can't get that name out of my head)

[@my936586]

Changcun! that's my hometown!

[@TheTinlaar]

Saw Hank.. INSTACLICK

[@Evilgood1]

I seem to remember an episode of Eons that concluded with evidence of Coelophysis cannibalism. The host also looks a lot like you.

[@scaper8]

I thought I remembered that too, but wasn't sure if I was thinking of some other science video. Wish they'd addressed tjat little nugget.

[@Danior78]

Theories change, and this is one that has changed a few times.

[@kendomyers]

_"Wasn't a cannibal or at least we dont have any evidence for it"_ The judge said the same thing to me when I was finally released from my cell

[@kendomyers]

@@louisfalcone5494 Why is that the reply to my comment?

[@kendomyers]

@@louisfalcone5494 It seems like my comment is an inappropriate place to put that comment. Also, why do you attack all of science? Surely there are forms of science that you are not opposed to.

[@darrylarsenault5005]

thanks patrons

[@Pillowzzz_]

No dino pics of each 1 :/. Great knowledge and you always do great videos. I started a few years back on psych.. W your angler fish always in sight. Keep up the good work

[@skyem5250]

After Coelophysis (probably misspelled) was supposedly exonerated, another specimen was found in the same quarry. This one was fossilized while defecating, and the coprolite contained likely juvenile Coelophysis finger bones. You talked about this on Eons!

[@shaepeacockart0423]

You can tell Hank really liked saying "mujungasaurus" 7:31

[@lalilaura1000]

This is amazing!!!! So interesting!!! What the hell!!! Science is amazing!!!

[@vantrez1070]

late night episodes hell yeah

[@farhana3164]

I thought this video was about Dino nuggets

[@koopametalpack]

This guy is my favorite sci show guy 😎

[@ladysilverwynde]

"Ancient turds". That was freakin' brilliant! 🤣

[@elanianiyvwia8687]

The hadrosaur was the first complete Dino skeleton found and the first Dino skeleton in the Americas in Haddonfield New Jersey, USA!!

[@user-gl8mn4fp5c]

The last time I was this early The dinosaurs where still alive

[@scaper8]

Well, there are still plenty out there. Every continent has native populations.

[@M50A1]

Who's the guy in your profile pic

[@agh9224]

ReM50 it’s *L E M O N C H I L D*

[@user-gl8mn4fp5c]

@@agh9224 lmao

[@user-gl8mn4fp5c]

@@M50A1 nah it's Aiden Gallagher

[@spinksinator1997]

I feel like the fact of some herbivores deciding to eat small birds if their diets are low on nutrition needs its own video. The philosophical implications of this have sent my mind into a frenzy

[@dancingkids5158]

End of digestive tract. Thanks. Was having lunch.

[@colinfrederick2603]

This content. Yasssss

[@purplepanda5773]

Hank For President!

[@skyem5250]

Coelophysis finger bones were found in coprolites also attributed to Coelophysis. Tyrannosaurus was also likely a cannibal. Tyrannosaurus bite marks have been found on Tyrannosaurus bones. Source: Hank's other video on Eons

[@michaelmccormick7005]

I find it satisfying when a well spoken scientifically literate person says " turds ".

[@Rubrickety]

Further questions: Were the two birds killed by one stone? And how much were they worth relative to four birds found in a bush?

[@garrett6064]

Additionally; were they carrying coconuts or unlaiden? African or European?

[@ivanclark2275]

Maybe they could tell if the sauropod stones were swallowed by accident by looking at the diet of the animal and comparing it to similar animals with different diets. If the stones are found more in sauropods that eat low to the ground plant matter than in high browsers, then it’s more likely to be swallowed by accident.

[@E763.]

!!yay prehistory

[@CommieHunter7]

So dinosaurs were alive at same time as birds. When did they split? Which dino lineages are gone and which one actually turned into birds?

[@-AmirulNaim]

okay since we know what dinosaurs have for dinner, we need to find what they had for lunch and breakfast next!

[@crazywitchbitch3334]

What if the hadrosaurs were using the crabs for pigmentation, like a flamingo?

[@OoOstegstegOoO]

Getting a very interesting feel from the thumbnail after that most recent episode of Primal... anyone else?

[@WillArtie]

"When it came to dinner time". Wasn't that all the time? ;)

[@dimitraBlissDk]

I have some gastrolith a good friend of mine gave me. He was a geologist from the University of Utah

[@MrLarryLicious]

Nr 5 really suprised me! I’m amazed that some animals eat rocks :)

[@Blitzo2876]

I'm amazed how beautiful you are. :)

[@MrLarryLicious]

Ameriken Aawh, Thank you!

[@Blitzo2876]

@@MrLarryLicious are you single?

[@contrarianduude3463]

Baby dinosaur ask what's for dinner? Mommy dinosaur responds with rocks.

[@MarvelX42]

Just because Majungasaurus teeth marks have been found on Majungasaurus bones doesn't necessarily mean that they were cannibals. They may have just been fighting for whatever reason like: territorial rights, mating rights, as an actual part of the mating itself, to display dominance or any number of other reasons.

[@RikoJAmado]

Coelophysis takes a nibble out of a fellow Coelophysis: "Hmmm, tastes like chicken nugget."

[@alexd5637]

Mmm, gizzard, delicious. I haven't eat that in perhaps over a decade :( Completely forgot it exists!

[@ariwoodward]

It's funny to imagine that if I died tonight and was found millions of years later they'd assume humans in the 2000s ate just ice cream and carbs lol, I had a lot of snacks today

[@jaydonbooth4042]

It definitely makes deer seem a little more malevolent to know that they will eat baby birds lol.

[@ReKiD1697]

hey how did something like gizzard stones evolve

[@sdfkjgh]

4:44 Wait, Shouldn't they have named it after the dragon that swallowed Indra instead?

[@MrRad]

sdfkjgh No they named the lizard that was eaten

[@LucyRoseLuna]

"yolo! " said littlefoot and swallowed pointy rocks that totally wouldn´t cut his esophagus

[@danielm.1441]

Mmmm.... rocks.

[@SlyPearTree]

Dinosaur Dinner is great and easy to make. You boil the noodle, drain them, add the dehydrated dinosaur powder, some milk and butter and voila!

[@rickbannan7110]

FYI this is the episode (maybe just *an* episode) where Hank says "turds"

[@thecreativemastermin]

I miss Kallie. This video should have been on Eons.

[@propagandist2311]

hey hank, i remember seeing you on PBS Eons. why you not there anymore

[@kayschatzie9222]

How long after death does digestion continue? Do stomach acids need to be warm to work? I'm amazed that we can find partially digested anything when fossilization takes actual ages

[@eamonahern7495]

Maybe majungasaurus wasn't a cannibal but perhaps fought over hunting territory and mating rights. Maybe some of these fights were fatal.

[@than217]

Dinosaurs/Birds: "How do we digest things?" Evolution: "I guess they could just constantly eat rocks your whole lives? That'd break it up." Dinosaurs/Birds: "Thank. Very helpful evolution..."

[@jeremyurquhart7456]

Feed a chicken some dino nuggets ..BOOM..Dino cannibalism 🤣

[@antiisocial]

Now I'm hungery.

[@ultraapple3997]

Do we know for sure if it is a diner?

[@anyascelticcreations]

Maybe the one who ate the two birds raided a nest. We might not be able to tell if the were juvenile birds. Especially if they were just about ready to leave the nest.

[@johnnyrepine937]

Is it possible that the majungasaurus teeth marks were a result of competition over mates?

[@mischarowe]

Is Hank anyone else's fav host, too?

[@pixelpusher3589]

love my dino's......

[@gibranhenriquedesouza2843]

Now we want a video explaining how nature made these coprolites.

[@arifhossain9751]

It's been 3 days and apparently no one has seen the irony of naming a "Thunder Lizard" after a Hindu god of storms.

[@arifhossain9751]

@@louisfalcone5494 This is why you dont have any friends, Louis.

[@dittbub]

Is there a Humungasaurus?

[@kraneiathedancingdryad6333]

"ancient turd" sounds like a punk rock band.

[@pamelamays4186]

Stomach stones give a whole new meaning to rock hard abs.

[@Scribe13013]

Now I'm hungry for bird bones

[@CucumbersSC]

Wait didn't the video "was this dinosaur a cannibal" on Eons arrive at fairly good evidence (in different fossils from the same formation) that Coelophysis did indeed eat juveniles of the same species?

[@RustyTube]

So, did M. gui come with a graphical user interface?

[@papamorosis1570]

it is now confirmed that coelophysis was a cannibal

[@tatuvarvemaa5314]

’Apex predators last meal’ Oh, a level 2 blood hound player... Danm... Natures brutal.

[@allisonfisher9304]

My chickens and turkeys eat a ton of pebbles, they poop them out, then eat them again 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🐓🦃