Dinosaurs, an ancient group of reptiles, exhibited diverse forms and adaptations over millions of years. Their varied diets and lifestyles often led to unique physical features. Among these creatures was a dinosaur known for an extraordinary number of teeth, a feature that distinguishes it from other prehistoric animals. This dinosaur possessed a dental system unlike any other.
The Dinosaur with 500 Teeth
The dinosaur with numerous teeth is Nigersaurus taqueti. A rebbachisaurid sauropod, Nigersaurus was a long-necked dinosaur, smaller than its relatives. It measured about 9 meters (30 feet) in length and weighed between 1.9 and 4 tons, comparable to a modern elephant.
Fossils of Nigersaurus taqueti were first described in 1976, originating from the Gadoufawa region of Niger, Africa. More complete remains were discovered during expeditions in 1997 and 2000, leading to its formal naming in 1999. This dinosaur roamed the Earth during the middle Cretaceous period, approximately 115 to 105 million years ago.
Its Extraordinary Dental System
Its dental system was a “dental battery.” This arrangement featured multiple rows of replacement teeth stacked vertically behind each active tooth. At any given time, Nigersaurus had over 500 teeth in its mouth, including functional and developing replacement teeth. It had about 68 columns of teeth in its upper jaw and 60 columns in its lower jaw.
The individual teeth of Nigersaurus were small and slender, shaped like needles or pegs, and were not designed for chewing or grinding tough plant material. These teeth were replaced at a rapid rate, approximately every 14 days. Its wide, straight muzzle, broader than the rest of its skull, positioned all its teeth far to the front of its mouth.
Diet and Habitat
The dental system of Nigersaurus was suited for its herbivorous diet, consisting of low-lying vegetation. It likely fed on soft plants such as ferns, horsetails, and early flowering plants, as grasses had not yet evolved. Its broad snout and front-mounted dental battery allowed it to efficiently crop large quantities of vegetation close to the ground, much like a prehistoric vacuum cleaner.
Nigersaurus probably kept its head close to the ground while feeding, a posture consistent with its relatively short neck for a sauropod. This feeding strategy differentiated it from other sauropods that typically browsed on higher foliage. The dinosaur lived in a lush, riverine environment characterized by inland floodplains in what is now the Sahara Desert, which was then a green and fertile landscape. Its dental adaptations fit its ecological niche.