A sea lion-sized marine dinosaur dubbed Eric who swam in Australian waters hundred of millions of years ago was a pescetarian who enjoyed fish snacks, scientists say.
Eric, a plesiosaur named after a Monty Python song, was found to contain 17 previously undescribed fish vertebrae, confirming the Jurassic beasts were mainly pescetarian.
Australian National University scientists believe their study is the first of its kind in Australia to use X-rays to see inside the gut contents of a fossilised dinosaur.
“Previous studies examined the exterior surface of Eric’s opalised skeleton to find clues,” lead researcher Joshua White said.
“But this approach can be difficult and limiting as fossilised stomach contents are rare to find and there can be more hidden beneath the surface that would be near impossible for palaeontologists to see without destroying the fossil.”…