Decode the way of eating the longest dinosaurs on the planet

Scientists believe that, by clamping a giant jaw into the tree branch and plucking the leaves, a Diplodocus dinosaur, longer than 51 meters and weighing 12 tons, could satisfy its gluttony.

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Diet of the Diplodocus dinosaur, the longest creature that ever lived on Earth, remains a mystery since their fossils were discovered 130 years ago.

The Diplodocus can eat hundreds of kilograms of leaves per day

Some scientists believe that they eat the bark by putting the jaw around the stem. Others claim that they suck on the branches and remove the leaves.

A team of scientists from Bristol University, London's Museum of Natural History, University of Missouri and Ohio University, said 3D modeling of the skull of the species would help them get the answer.

Ohio University Professor Casey Holliday said: ' With the 3D skull model, we can reproduce their three feeding situations: normal eating, eating each branch, and eating bark. Then, we use computer-based analysis to see how much pressure the skull must suffer in each situation. "

According to Dailymail, the 3D skull model created by the group is more than half a meter long and is placed on a 6 meter long neck.

'Scientists at the beginning of the 20th century thought that this dinosaur used its jaws to eat bark to eat,' said Professor Holliday. 'However, we find that this way of eating will put more pressure on teeth and skulls, making them more likely to break or damage. Our model shows that eating leaves on branches creates little pressure, or even no pressure on teeth and skulls. "

Dr Mark Young, of the University of Bristol, said that because this reptile is very different from today's animals, there are no animals to compare with. It is important to have a model like this to have a better understanding of extinct mammals long ago.

This finding also helps scientists better understand the great animals that feed on today's leaves such as elephants or giraffes and how they interact with their surroundings.