Which Dinosaurs Were Herbivores?

Are you looking for an easy way to teach your child about dinosaurs? We’ve put together a set of free materials that parents and teachers can use right away. In this lesson, your child will dive into the fascinating world of herbivorous dinosaurs. 

We’ll explore the unique survival strategies of plant-eating dinosaurs. Explore science in a more engaging way with captivating 3D videos and interactive quizzes. Download our app to get started!

What You Will Learn From This Lesson

How Did Shantungosaurus Eat Tall Plants?

The massive Shantungosaurus was a herbivore that lived in China during the Late Cretaceous period. It could grow to be 50 feet long and weigh as much as 16 tons. This dinosaur was the largest of its order, even taller than the Tyrannosaurus.

Shantungosaurus possessed strong hindlimbs that allowed it to stand upright, enabling it to reach leaves that were high up. Its specialized teeth also helped it process tough, fibrous plants. It had a horny beak and over 1,000 teeth growing in several rows. As the top row of teeth wore down, a new row would emerge underneath to replace them. Shantungosaurus also used its large nasal cavity to produce loud sounds, which may have been used for communication with other members of its group.

What Special Feature Did Therizinosaurus Have?

Another plant-eater was the Therizinosaurus, which lived in Asia during the Late Cretaceous period. This dinosaur was huge in size and walked on two hind legs. A distinctive feature of the Therizinosaurus was its huge, long, curved claws, which could be up to 30 inches long on each forelimb.

Despite their sharp appearance, these claws were not used for hunting. Instead, they were likely used to reach and cut high plants. The name Therizinosaurus literally means “scythe lizard” because its claws resemble sharp scythes. Further supporting its herbivorous habits, the dinosaur had a horny beak and small teeth. It is also speculated to have been a feathered dinosaur, covered in fine, hairy feathers.

How Did Diplodocus Use Its Tail?

The Diplodocus was an enormous dinosaur, about 80 feet long. When facing predators like the Allosaurus, the Diplodocus had a powerful defense mechanism: its tail.

The tail was composed of about 80 flexible caudal vertebrae, or bones. These bones were smaller toward the tail tip, which allowed the tail to be swung like a whip to hit an enemy. This great defensive tool helped the plant-eating Diplodocus survive.

What Did Shunosaurus Use to Defend Itself?

The Shunosaurus was another herbivore, living during the Jurassic period in China. At only 33 feet long, it was much smaller than the Diplodocus. With its shorter neck, the Shunosaurus fed on low-growing plants. It used its broad mouth and short, pillar-like, strong teeth to chew tough vegetation.

Its primary defensive tool was a bony, spherical club at the end of its tail. The caudal vertebrae at the tail end were huge and tightly packed, forming this tail club. Shunosaurus could swing the tail club like a hammer to ward off enemies. Plant-eating dinosaurs were not weak and had unique ways of surviving.

Fun Fact

• Shantungosaurus was so massive that it could grow taller than a Tyrannosaurus rex.
• The Diplodocus’s tail contained about 80 bones, allowing it to move like a powerful whip.
• When a Shantungosaurus lost a tooth, a new one would immediately pop up to replace it.
• The claws of a Therizinosaurus could be as long as 30 inches, but they were only for grabbing plants.
• Shunosaurus used a bony, hammer-like club on its tail to scare away predators.

Vocabulary

• Herbivorous: A term describing an animal, such as the dinosaurs in this lesson, that has a diet consisting only of plants.
• Caudal Vertebrae: These are the bones that make up the tail of a dinosaur, giving it flexibility and power, as seen in the Diplodocus.
• Hindlimbs: The rear or back legs of a dinosaur, such as the Shantungosaurus, which used its strong hindlimbs to stand upright.
• Horny Beak: A strong, tough structure at the front of the mouth, similar to a duck’s, that was used by dinosaurs like the Shantungosaurus and Therizinosaurus to help consume plants.