Fossilized Dinosaur Droppings Reveal Key Insights Into Their Evolution

A 25-year study of ancient feces and stomach contents uncovers how dinosaurs rose to dominate Earth's ecosystems.

Researchers analyzed over 500 fossilized samples, including dinosaur feces, vomit, and stomach contents, to reconstruct their diets and interactions with the environment.
The study identifies five evolutionary phases of dinosaur development, starting from small, minority species to dominant ecosystem rulers by the Jurassic period.
Findings suggest early plant-eating dinosaurs consumed charcoal, possibly to detoxify their diet of toxic ferns.
Environmental upheavals, including volcanic activity and climate shifts, likely gave dinosaurs an advantage over competitors by allowing them to adapt to new food sources.
The research, based on specimens from Poland, highlights the potential for similar studies globally to refine our understanding of dinosaur evolution.