Starving dinosaurs may have resorted to cannibalism when food was scarce, study finds

STARVING dinosaurs may have resorted to cannibalism when food was scarce, a study suggests.

Tooth marks on fossil bones from the late Jurassic period 150million years ago give “excellent evidence of feeding habits”.

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They found 684 specimens with at least one bite mark from a theropod, probably Allosaurus.

Most were on bones of plant-eating reptiles, but 17 per cent were on those of other theropods.

Observed bite marks include punctures, scores, furrows, pits, and striations.

Researcher Stephanie Drumheller said: “Big theropods were not picky eaters, especially if strapped for resources.

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“Scavenging and even cannibalism were definitely on the table.”

The US team from the University of Tennessee analysed 2,000 bone fragments from the Mygatt-Moore Quarry, Colorado.

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