Overview

• The Diamantinasaurus matildae cololite was unearthed in Queensland’s Winton Formation in 2017 and subsequently studied for preserved plant fossils.
• Fossilized gut contents show plant remains severed but not chewed, supporting a bulk-feeding strategy powered by gut microbiota.
• Analyses identified conifer foliage, seed-fern fruiting bodies and angiosperm leaves among the sauropod’s last meals.
• The discovery of angiosperm material indicates sauropods incorporated flowering plants into their diet within 40 million years of their first appearance.
• Authors note that the findings derive from a single subadult individual and may not represent dietary habits across life stages or environments.