
New research analysing ancient tooth fossils reveals that even one of the world’s most formidable predators used to be vegan.
Scientists have discovered that ancestors of the modern crocodile had specialised teeth which were designed for grinding vegetables rather than eating animal flesh.
Researchers concluded that between three to six members of the crocodile and alligator family which lived on Earth 200 million years ago had vegan diets.
The study, published in Current Biology, looked at 146 tooth fossils from 16 different animals, and noticed they were shaped in a similar way to herbivore dinosaurs which became extinct millions of years ago.
Modern day crocodiles have sharp teeth useful for a carnivorous diet, but the teeth studied had shapes like no known living animal today.
The complex shapes led researchers to believe they were adapted to eating exclusively vegetables.
Study author Keegan Melstrom, a doctoral student at the University of Utah, US, said: “The most interesting thing we discovered was how frequently it seems extinct crocodyliforms ate plants.
“Carnivores possess simple teeth whereas herbivores have much more complex teeth.
“Omnivores, organisms that eat both plant and animal material, fall somewhere in between.
“Our study indicates that complexly-shaped teeth, which we infer to indicate herbivory, appear in the extinct relatives of crocodiles at least three times and maybe as many as six.
“Part of my earlier research showed that this pattern holds in living reptiles that have teeth, such as crocodylians and lizards.
“So these results told us that the basic pattern between diet and teeth is found in both mammals and reptiles, despite very different tooth shapes, and is applicable to extinct reptiles.”
What do you think of this research? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Is Tobey Maguire vegan? Here’s what we know
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 17th August 2023
Tobey Maguire often speaks about veganism and animal issues. Tobey Maguire, the actor best known for playing Spider-Man in the Sam Raimi trilogy, is a vegan. He has been a vegetarian since 1992 and became a vegan in 2009. A lifelong commitment to animal rights Maguire’s decision to go vegan was motivated by his love …
Continue reading “Is Tobey Maguire vegan? Here’s what we know”
Plant-based food jobs surge with 32% growth in just 3 months
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 17th August 2023
The number of open jobs advertised in the plant-based industry increased by almost a third from April to July 2023, GlobalData reported. The plant-based food industry is booming, and this is reflected in the number of job openings in the sector. According to data from GlobalData, the number of open jobs advertised in the plant-based …
Continue reading “Plant-based food jobs surge with 32% growth in just 3 months”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
Continue reading “QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert”
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
Continue reading “QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?”
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …