Scientists studied the teeth, bones, and fossils of troodontids—small to medium-sized dinosaurs that lived millions of years ago and were related to modern birds. Unlike most meat-eating dinosaurs, troodontids appear to have eaten both plants and animals. By examining their teeth patterns, stomach contents from fossils, and body structure, researchers concluded that these dinosaurs were omnivores (eating both meat and plants). This discovery helps us understand how dinosaurs evolved and adapted to different food sources over time, filling in important gaps in our knowledge about prehistoric life.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What did troodontid dinosaurs eat? Scientists reviewed all available evidence about these bird-like dinosaurs’ diets by studying their teeth, fossils, and body features.
  • Who participated: This wasn’t a study with living subjects. Instead, scientists analyzed fossils and existing research about troodontids that lived in Asia, North America, and Europe during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (roughly 200 to 66 million years ago).
  • Key finding: Troodontids were likely omnivores—they ate both meat (small animals, baby dinosaurs, and mammals) and plants. This was different from most other meat-eating dinosaurs of their time.
  • What it means for you: While this doesn’t directly affect your diet, it shows how animals adapt and evolve to eat different foods. Understanding dinosaur diets helps scientists learn how life changes over millions of years. This research is mainly important for paleontologists and dinosaur enthusiasts.

The Research Details

This was a comprehensive review study, meaning scientists gathered and analyzed all existing information about troodontid dinosaurs rather than conducting new experiments. They examined multiple types of evidence: the shape and wear patterns on fossilized teeth, actual stomach contents preserved in fossils, the structure of their bones and claws, and chemical analysis of fossil remains. By combining all these different types of clues, they built a picture of what these dinosaurs likely ate.

The researchers focused especially on Troodon, a famous North American troodontid, but also looked at Asian species. They compared troodontid features to other dinosaurs and modern animals to understand what their physical traits tell us about their diet. This approach is like being a detective—using multiple pieces of evidence to solve a mystery about the past.

Review studies like this are important because they bring together scattered information from many different sources. Fossil evidence is rare and incomplete, so scientists need to look at everything available—teeth, bones, stomach contents, and more—to understand what ancient animals ate. By synthesizing all this evidence, researchers can make stronger conclusions than any single fossil discovery could provide.

This review was published in a respected scientific journal (Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society), which means it was checked by other experts. However, the authors themselves note that fossil evidence for troodontid diets is limited and scattered. The conclusions are based on the best available evidence, but more fossils and research could change our understanding. The authors are honest about these limitations and encourage more research.

What the Results Show

The main finding is that troodontids were omnivores—they ate both meat and plants. This conclusion comes from several types of evidence working together. First, their teeth were unusual compared to other meat-eating dinosaurs. Some troodontids had teeth without serrations (the saw-like edges), which suggests they ate plants. However, other troodontids kept the sharp, serrated teeth suited for eating meat.

Second, scientists found actual evidence in fossils. Stomach contents and gastric pellets (fossilized stomach stones) showed that troodontids ate both plant and animal material. This is direct proof of their mixed diet. Third, their body structure supported hunting: they had large curved claws on their feet and teeth designed for gripping and tearing, which are perfect for catching small prey.

For the famous North American dinosaur Troodon specifically, the evidence suggests it hunted small animals like mammals and baby dinosaurs (both hatched and still in eggs), while also eating plants. This made them true omnivores, not just meat-eaters with occasional plant snacking.

The research also provides clues about the diets of other dinosaur groups. Since troodontids were related to deinonychosaurs (which included the famous Velociraptor) and early bird-like dinosaurs, understanding troodontid diets helps scientists figure out what these related groups ate. The evidence suggests that early bird-like dinosaurs may have also been omnivores, not purely meat-eaters as previously thought. This changes how scientists think about dinosaur evolution and how different species adapted to their environments.

For a long time, scientists thought most meat-eating dinosaurs ate only meat. This research shows that at least some groups, like troodontids, were more flexible eaters. The discovery that troodontids lacked typical meat-eater teeth in some cases challenged the old assumption that all theropod dinosaurs (the group that included T-Rex) were carnivores. This fits with a growing understanding that dinosaurs were more diverse in their lifestyles and diets than scientists once believed.

The authors are clear about the main limitation: there simply aren’t enough fossils to study. Troodontid fossils are rare, and fossils with preserved stomach contents are even rarer. Most of what we know comes from a small number of specimens, mainly from North America. We know very little about troodontids from other parts of the world or from different time periods. Additionally, scientists can’t directly observe how these dinosaurs hunted or ate, so they’re making educated guesses based on physical features. More fossil discoveries, especially from Asia and Europe, would help confirm these conclusions.

The Bottom Line

For scientists and dinosaur researchers: Continue studying troodontid fossils, especially from Asia and Europe where they’re less well-known. Use advanced techniques to analyze tooth wear patterns and chemical signatures in fossils. For the general public: Understand that dinosaurs were more diverse and adaptable than popular culture suggests—they weren’t all giant meat-eating monsters. (Confidence level: Moderate, based on limited fossil evidence)

Paleontologists and dinosaur scientists should care most about this research. Museum educators and dinosaur enthusiasts will find this information interesting for understanding how dinosaurs lived. This doesn’t directly apply to human health or nutrition, though it’s fascinating for anyone interested in evolution and natural history.

This research doesn’t involve timelines for personal benefits since it’s about ancient dinosaurs. However, scientists may discover new fossils that confirm or change these conclusions within the next 5-10 years as technology improves and more excavations happen.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Not applicable—this research is about prehistoric dinosaurs, not modern nutrition or health tracking.
  • Not applicable—this is paleontological research without direct application to personal behavior change.
  • Not applicable—this research doesn’t involve personal health monitoring or dietary changes.

This article discusses scientific research about prehistoric dinosaurs and does not provide medical, nutritional, or health advice. The findings are based on fossil evidence and scientific analysis of extinct animals from millions of years ago. This research does not apply to human diet or health. For questions about your own nutrition or health, consult with a qualified healthcare provider or registered dietitian.