New study reveals overlooked lizard Thescelosaurus neglectus possessed exceptional sense of smell.
A recent study published in Scientific Reports sheds new light on the seemingly unexceptional Thescelosaurus neglectus, also known as the overlooked lizard. Despite being dismissed as an ordinary herbivore, this 12-foot-long dinosaur possessed an extraordinary sense of smell, as revealed the analysis of a fossilized specimen named Willo.
Thescelosaurus neglectus lived in North America 66 million years ago, just before the last Cretaceous mass extinction. While it may have appeared unremarkable, the dinosaur’s well-developed olfactory bulbs were comparable to those of today’s alligators, allowing it to detect scents much more effectively than previously thought.
Using its heightened sense of smell, Thescelosaurus neglectus likely located buried plant foods like roots and tubers, utilizing its impressive sense of balance to navigate its position while burrowing underground. This challenges the notion that T. neglectus was a dull creature, shedding new light on the possibility of dinosaurs coexisting with larger predators.
The findings of the study provide new insights into the capabilities of ancient dinosaurs and have been published in Scientific Reports, accessible through this link.