How Some Dinosaurs Grew Over 70,000 Teeth to Survive
Large plant-eating dinosaurs needed powerful teeth to chew through tough plants. If their teeth wore down too much, they would struggle to eat and eventually die. But one group of dinosaurs, called ornithopods, evolved a clever solution—they grew thousands of extra teeth throughout their lifetime.
A Never-Ending Supply of Teeth
According to a report by the UK’s Natural History Museum, ornithopods—successful herbivores of the Cretaceous period—developed constant tooth replacement systems. Scientists studied well-preserved teeth, jaws, and skulls from these dinosaurs and found that their teeth became more suited for chewing tough plants over time.
Earlier ornithopods had smoother teeth, meaning they likely ate softer plants and fruits. However, as their diet shifted to harder vegetation, their teeth wore down faster. Some dinosaurs in this group had to replace up to 80 teeth every month to keep up with the wear and tear!
Hadrosaurs: The Ultimate Tooth Growers
One of the most famous ornithopods, the hadrosaur, had a particularly impressive dental system. Hadrosaurs could store multiple layers of backup teeth in their skulls, ensuring they never ran out. At any given time, they could have 1,000 teeth in their mouths, with replacements constantly growing underneath.
Paleontologists estimate that large hadrosaurs could grow more than 70,000 teeth over a lifetime! Their ability to continuously regenerate strong teeth allowed them to eat tougher plants and digest food more efficiently.
Evolution and Survival
This research, published in Nature Communications, shows that as dinosaurs grew larger, they needed more efficient digestion. Their ability to constantly replace worn-down teeth played a key role in their survival and success. Without this adaptation, many of these plant-eating giants might not have thrived for millions of years.
Understanding dinosaur teeth helps scientists learn more about their evolution, diet, and adaptation to changing environments. Who knows what other fascinating discoveries about these prehistoric giants await?
