How did Ankylosaurus get its food?

As a herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period (approximately 70 to 66 million years ago), Ankylosaurus had a specialized diet that primarily consisted of low-lying vegetation such as ferns, cycads, and other plants. This article explores how Ankylosaurus obtained its food through various physical adaptations and feeding behaviors.

Physical Adaptations

Ankylosaurus had a broad, flat skull that was well-suited for cropping tough, fibrous plant material. Its beak-like mouth was designed to grip and clip leaves and stems efficiently. Additionally, the animal had small, leaf-shaped teeth that were not designed to break up large plants. Instead, it relied on its grinding teeth to process the plant material after clipping it.

Feeding Behavior

Ankylosaurus likely fed by using its beak to clip off leaves and stems, and then using its grinding teeth to break down the plant material, making it easier to digest. This process would have allowed the dinosaur to obtain sufficient nutrients from its diet and thrive in its environment.

Browsing and Grazing

Ankylosaurus would have engaged in both grazing (feeding on low-growing plants) and browsing (reaching for higher vegetation). Based on available food sources, it would adapt its feeding strategy accordingly. This behavior is indicative of a flexible herbivore that could exploit various plant resources in its environment.

Social Behavior

While it remains unclear if Ankylosaurus fed in groups, evidence suggests that social feeding strategies can benefit certain herbivorous dinosaurs. Collaborative feeding would have allowed the dinosaurs to locate and access food more effectively, although a solitary lifestyle is also plausible given the known solitary behavior of other herbivorous dinosaurs.

The Role of Digestive Adaptations

A 2004 analysis by Carpenter suggests that Ankylosaurus had a specialized digestive system that included a broad section of its ribcage dedicated to fermentation. This would have allowed the dinosaur to break down the large amounts of un-chewed plant material it consumed, which would otherwise be difficult to digest.

More recently, a 2011 study in the Journal of Anatomy revealed that the looping nasal cavity of Ankylosaurus was important for regulating temperature, despite its minimal role in improving smell. However, the presence of a large olfactory bulb in the brain structure suggested that these dinosaurs had a strong sense of smell, which aided in seeking out food and avoiding predators.

A more recent study presented in November 2014 at the annual Society for Vertebrate Paleontology in Berlin further suggests that the nasal passages of Ankylosaurus helped keep their brains cool.

In summary, Ankylosaurus was well-adapted to its herbivorous lifestyle, with specialized physical and digestive adaptations that enabled it to thrive in the ecosystems of its time. Its ability to feed on a variety of plant material, combined with its robust digestive system, made it a successful herbivore in the Late Cretaceous period.