DIatryma giants are not carnivores

Contrary to the previous conclusions, a new study shows that giant Diatryma birds are just gentle animals.

The footprints of the giant bird Diatryma show that it is a gentle herbivore rather than a ferocious predator.

A group of researchers from Washington, USA, examined footprints discovered in a landslide in 2009.

Previous research has suggested that the giant bird is a predatory predator or scavenger. However, the clawless footprint supported the theory that Diatryma was not a carnivore.

About 2.13m tall and has a large head and beak, the giant bird that can't fly Diatryma is often described as a ferocious predator in both scientific and media works. .

Giant Diatryma bird

Geologist and research group member George Mustoe, from Western Washington University in Bellingham, USA, said the animal was thought to be: 'a bird to replace dinosaurs as a top predator' , "We be honest: scary creatures, ferocious carnivores attract much more attention than gentle herbivores ".

The study, published in the journal Paleontology, analyzed a set of footprints dating back to 55.8 to 48.6 million years ago at the Lower Eocene Eocene. Preserved in sandstone, footprints form part of Chuckanut Formation in northwestern Washington, USA.

The team concluded that many well-preserved traces could be created by Diatryma. This helps them learn about footprints left behind by this giant bird and footprints that provide new evidence of what this bird eats.

"The traces clearly show that this animal does not have long claws, but has short toenails , " said David Tucker, of Western Washington University, who also participated in the study.

"The raptors must have long sharp claws to keep their prey ," explained David Tucker.

The first paleontologists studying the Diatryma fossil concluded that the giant bird was a carnivore because of its size, with its large head and large beak.

Diatryma bones first found in the United States are preserved with small horse bones and other small mammals. Diatryma has relatively short legs, which indicates that it cannot run fast enough to catch prey, and therefore it is a herbivore.

Further analysis shows that the bird does not have a hook at its end - a trait found in all carnivorous birds that helps them keep and tear off prey.

Most likely, Diatryma uses their mines to cut leaves, eat fruits and seeds from subtropical forests where they live.