DinoSpeak.com
Home/Diet Types/Omnivore

Omnivorous Dinosaurs

Omnivorous dinosaurs ate both plants and animals — insects, eggs, small lizards, seeds, and fruit were all on the menu. This dietary flexibility gave them a survival advantage in changing environments. Many oviraptorosaurs, ornithomimids, and small theropods fall into this category.

Fun Facts

  • ✓Oviraptor was long thought to be an egg thief (its name means 'egg thief'), but it was likely brooding its own eggs when discovered next to a nest.
  • ✓Gallimimus, the ostrich-like dinosaur from Jurassic Park, could run at speeds up to 30 mph and likely ate plants, insects, and small animals.
  • ✓Many omnivorous dinosaurs had beaks instead of teeth, which were useful for cracking nuts, seeds, and eggs.
  • ✓Omnivory gave dinosaurs an advantage during mass extinctions, when a flexible diet helped them find whatever food was available.
  • ✓Troodon is one of the most famous potentially omnivorous dinosaurs, with large eyes for hunting in low light and a varied diet.

Questions About Omnivorous Dinosaurs