The question ‘What did dinosaurs have herd mentality?’
Is a very good one as we look into the past and study all that was previously depicted in the media.
We have all seen so many of the famous T. Rex’s that have become popular merchandise and dinosaur toys.
But, were you aware that the T. Rex were herbivores and that they would have been part of a working flock of animals?
This group of dinosaurs would have done well together in a cooperative effort as they were specialized for it. This is also very common in modern day stock dogs as well as herding goats or sheep in some instances.
So, why did the dinosaurs of old have this group of characteristics?
There are several theories out there from paleontologists and archeologists that I can relate to. One was that the T. Rex would have looked much like that of the Scelidosaurus that lived during the Cretaceous geological period of our planet. In fact, they were probably similar to the dinosaurs that existed at that time. That means that they were looking at the same food and they were eating it in just the same way. They also would have had similar intelligence and were social creatures.
Looking at another theory is that the dinosaurs that were mentioned in ancient writing. As being in groups of animals which may have been the result of the dinosaur ‘horde’. The reason being that these dinosaurs would have needed plenty of space to move around. Also, they had to look good for the large predators that hunted them down. Their appearance was important for their survival. The group of animals that they belonged to was also important to them. They had to look like a certain type of dinosaur to fit into the little groups they belonged to.
Now, what exactly did these large dinosaurs do to get this group of traits?
The answer to that question will be interesting to discover. The fact is that when the dinosaurs began to look more like each other, they began to form into different groups. Some of these groups branched out from other groups and began to compete for territory and for food. This is one theory that gives the answer to, “what dinosaurs had horde mentality?”
The other hypothesis is that they were looking at their entire group as one group and using it as their hunting ground. The idea here is that they would take one flock of prey and do a nice clean up and then look for a new flock to take back to the nest. When they took one group they would have the advantage because of their size. The larger the group the easier it would be to hunt. It would take fewer birds with them to make a good meal so there wouldn’t be as many of them to fight for the same amount of prey.
If you think about it, this makes sense of what dinosaurs had Horde Mentality. They were looking at their whole group as one, using it as their hunting ground. Of course, one of the problems with this is that if all of the dinosaurs in a particular area were the same size, then there would only be one winner and there would not be enough food to go around!
Dinosaurs Had Collective Mutation, Not Aggressive Behavior
Have you ever wondered how the dinosaurs really felt about their environment?
How did they survive and why weren’t they wiped out?
Most scientists agree that the reason is that dinosaurs were very social animals. They lived in large groups that ranged from one family member to a hundred members. The most dominant members always acted as leaders. They hunted, gathered food, and kept the entire community safe together.
Children didn’t travel with dinosaurs during prehistoric times, so they did not learn how to communicate with one another. As children grew, they began to imitate their parents. This included mimicking the sounds and actions of the dinosaur family. They dressed just like their parents.
The main problem with this behavior is that dinosaurs appeared in such a great number that they became confused as to which was their own and which was theirs. For example, while a T-Rex might confuse a Velociraptor, there would be no problem recognizing an Alvisaurus or Protodiceris. There are many theories on why this occurred but none can be proven. Some researchers think that dinosaurs did not have the intelligence of modern-day birds. Some believe that dinosaurs could not make complex decisions during their time because of their low IQ.
One theory states that dinosaurs were in fact the descendants of birds. Some groups of dinosaurs closely resemble modern day birds such as the Galapagos Islands’ giant species. In fact, millions of years ago, these same groups of dinosaurs were capable of walking upright.
How did dinosaurs live during prehistoric times?
Unlike modern day birds, dinosaurs were semi-aquatic. They hunted on land and walked on water. They fed mostly on vegetation but occasionally used insects and animal prey as their primary source of nutrition. Because they were primarily herbivores, dinosaurs were not prone to starvation.
Was the existence of dinosaurs based on the survival of the fittest?
One way to look at this theory is to imagine a scenario where only one group of dinosaurs survive. They have to get along with each other, but they are not allowed to eat each other. This might be why the herd mentality did not come into play, as dinosaurs could compete for the same food and pick off competitors.
What does this all mean for us today?
The discovery of these prehistoric creatures opens up a whole new era in paleontology.
Did the breakup of dinosaurs affect the rest of the ecosystem and the direction of animal life?
Were some species wiped out because there was not enough food for them?
What does this mean for us today?
It is important to understand that there are many theories out there regarding dinosaur behavior. Some of these theories do hold water. If paleontologists are able to prove that dinosaurs were indeed capable of having a cohesive population, then we can better understand how to preserve the world. Many people are skeptical about paleontologists discovering such facts. They say that dinosaurs might be a thing of the past. This might be true, but it is also true that if people learn what these discoveries say, they might be able to bring these amazing creatures back to life.
Maybe, someday, these old bones will be on display and people will have a reason to pay big money to see them.
These discoveries do not mean that dinosaurs lived in unorganized bands. It might be a case of them living in large communities at one time, but it is not a case of them being unorganized today. This discovery might mean that the theories concerning the breakup of the dinosaurs into smaller groups are wrong.
On the other hand, it might also mean that the small prehistoric community died out due to a lack of resources. This would mean that there was no vegetation, no fire, and no real way to communicate. In order for us to survive today, it is extremely important that we understand how we lived in prehistoric times. Studying the fossils in detail can help us to learn about the ways in which we lived.
If the ideas presented here are true, then it is likely that the dinosaurs were not the aggressive, ego-driven animals that most people think them to be. Instead, they might have been much more social animals. The fact that many dinosaur bones show evidence of aggression does not necessarily mean that dinosaurs really felt threatened by other creatures in the prehistoric period.
Understanding this might allow us to draw more accurate conclusions about the behavior of dinosaurs, and in turn, shed new light on the characteristics of the prehistoric era.
Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.
