Dinosaurs thrived on Earth for approximately 180 million years. However, understanding their everyday existence has long been a challenge due to the intricate task of interpreting fossils that date back over 65 million years. Recent advancements are changing that narrative.
Recent technological innovations and the discovery of new specimens have provided unprecedented insights into dinosaur behavior and ecology. This progress, coupled with observations from contemporary animals, is enabling palaeontologists to reconstruct various aspects of dinosaur life, including parental care, migration patterns, hunting techniques, and social interactions.
Leading the charge in the exploration of dinosaur life is a palaeontologist from Queen Mary University of London. He is compiling the latest findings in an upcoming book that promises to shed light on dinosaur behavior, including insights on migrating herbivores and semi-aquatic predators, along with challenges posed by modern animals in understanding ancient parenting practices.
Some of the largest dinosaurs, like sauropods such as Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus, bear little resemblance to any living creatures. How do researchers approach understanding their behavior?
One of the key strategies employed by palaeontologists is applying insights from the ecology and behavior of modern animals. For instance, the shape of a dinosaur’s mouth can provide clues about its dietary habits—smaller mouths often indicate a diet focused on highly nutritious individual leaves or buds.
