When you think of dinosaurs eating, what comes to mind? Perhaps a mighty T. rex chomping on another dinosaur? Or a giant plant-eater munching its way through a forest? Well, here's something you might not know – dinosaurs probably ate fruit, too! Scientists have discovered exciting new evidence suggesting that prehistoric forests were full of more tasty treats than we once thought. Let's sink our teeth into six juicy dinosaur facts.

1. Fruit emerged around 136 million years ago

The first flowering plants appeared around 136 million years ago in the Early Cretaceous. They weren’t like the ones we see in gardens though – they were small and weedy. It took about 60 million years for their fruits to become the size of blueberries or acorns. So next time you eat a blueberry or a grape, think of the dinosaurs that were eating fruits that size too.

2. Late Cretaceous dinosaurs probably ate fruit

Dinosaurs such as ankylosaurs and hadrosaurs (duck-billed dinosaurs) are thought to have eaten fruit as part of their diet. But a recent discovery shows that one dinosaur might have eaten mostly fruit – like modern parrots. The Infernogallus (which means ‘hell chicken’) was about the size of a turkey and had a beak which it probably used to nibble fruits.

3. Dinosaurs may have eaten drupes

Although it’s impossible to know what fruits were around in the Cretaceous, scientists think dinosaurs may have eaten drupes – fruits like cherries and peaches that have soft flesh and a hard central pit. Drupes were evolving in the Cretaceous, so it’s definitely possible they formed part of herbivore dinosaurs’ diets.  

4. Dinosaurs helped fruiting plants spread

Want to know a clever trick used by plants?

When fruit is eaten by an animal, its seeds travel through the animal's body before being deposited in its droppings. This helps the fruit plants to spread and thrive across a wider area. Scientists believe dinosaurs might have helped prehistoric plants spread their seeds in a similar way.

5. Fossils reveal prehistoric secrets

How do scientists know what grew millions of years ago?

The answer is fossils. At one remarkable site in New Mexico, volcanic ash helped preserve ancient plants, fruits and seeds. Scientists have studied hundreds of these fossils to understand what prehistoric forests looked like. It's rather like finding a giant time capsule buried beneath the ground.

6. There's still plenty to discover

Although scientists have uncovered exciting clues, they don't know exactly which fruits every dinosaur ate. This is what makes prehistoric life so fascinating. New discoveries will probably reveal even more about dinosaur diets, ancient forests and the creatures that lived there.

Perhaps one day we'll know what a Triceratops enjoyed for breakfast.

Discover dinosaurs for yourself

If you’re ready to meet some new dino friends, don’t miss Dinosaur World Live, an award-winning dinosaur family show that introduces you to some amazing creatures like T. rex, Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor and Segnosaurus. This interactive dinosaur experience is perfect for kids aged three and up, being just 55 minutes long with a meet and greet at the end. View venues and dates online or search “dinosaur event near me” and book your tickets for a roarsome adventure.