Herbivorous dinosaurs were dinosaurs that didn't eat meat. Some herbivores were as big as football fields, while others were smaller than humans. These were awe-inspiring animals!

Dinosaurs that were herbivores mainly ate leaves from trees, shrubs and grasslands. Their teeth and beaks could easily grind through leaves and shrubs, giving them plenty of nutrients to grow to massive sizes. Their diet evolved during the Mesozoic Era and is different from the diets of herbivore animals today. 

Let's look at some of the most popular herbivore dinosaurs and explore how their anatomy helped them in the wild.

The Two Main Categories of Herbivore Dinosaurs

Like other animals, dinosaurs were divided into families and species. So, different species of dinosaurs could come from the same family. Even a gigantic dinosaur and a small dinosaur could come from the same family as long as they had similar origins! The two main families of herbivore dinosaurs are:

• Saurischians: Dinosaurs in the Saurischian family had a lizard-hip structure. At the most basic level, the Sauropods are the herbivore category of Saurischians. These dinosaurs are known for their large size, long necks and tails and for walking on all fours. The Sauropods are also the largest animals that ever walked on land.
• Ornithischians: Ornithischians are a group of herbivores. The word means "bird-hipped" and was given to this group of dinosaurs because fossils indicate their hips were shaped like a bird. Some of these guys were almost as big as the Sauropods, so they packed a heavy punch. 

You don't have to look at the dinosaurs' hip structures to identify them. These terms determine dinosaurs by their order, not their appearance. Other ways exist to identify herbivore dinosaurs — and all dinosaurs in general — such as their skull shape, teeth and vertebrae.

What Did Dinosaurs Eat?

Herbivorous dinosaurs loved different kinds of plants. Eating only tree leaves and grass can get boring after a while, so many dinosaurs ate various plants. For example, the Minmi liked seeds and leaves. The Hadrosaurs enjoyed munching on berries, twigs and other thorny plants. During the Cretaceous period, many dinosaurs liked to eat grass and various species of flowers. Earlier, during the Triassic and Jurassic eras, vegetation like conifers, ginkgoes, cycads, ferns, club mosses and horsetail were popular choices! 

The Most Well-Known Herbivore Dinosaurs

Several dinosaurs stand out due to their massive sizes. Dinosaurs grew to be so big due to evolution and the wide availability of food. Because they lived during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, dinosaurs had access to plenty of vegetation. These prehistoric periods experienced five times the concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide than what we have today, meaning that it was hot — really hot. Higher carbon dioxide levels meant vegetation grew abundantly, so these animals had plenty to eat. Herbivores also had to grow big to protect themselves against the carnivorous predators. Regardless of size, there's no doubt that dinosaurs were formidable creatures.

1. Iguanodon

The Iguanodon is one of the most popular herbivore dinosaurs in the world and was the first to be discovered! Reaching around 30 feet long and weighing up to five tons (10,000 pounds!), this animal's teeth indicate that it ate primarily plants and tough vegetation. Found mainly in what is now Europe, such as England and Belgium, this dinosaur lived roughly 140 to 110 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period. Fossils indicate that the Iguanodon roamed around in packs for protection against predators. 

2. Hadrosaurus

The Hadrosaurus, which translates to "bulky lizard," first appeared during the Cretaceous period — around 100 million years ago. This animal, whose fossils have been found in the United States, could grow to more than 25 feet long and could run fast on land, which helped it escape predators like the tyrannosaurus.

3. Stegosaurus

The Stegosaurus was one of the more formidable dinosaurs of the latter part of the Jurassic period and the Early Cretaceous period. Its appearance was unmistakable, with a slightly sharp beak that ended in a point, plating that ran across its back and spikes that donned its tail. It's no wonder that this dinosaur was one of the few herbivores that could hold its own against the Tyrannosaurus rex — scientists explain that the Stegosaurus used its weaponized tail to fend off the T. rex. Growing up to 30 feet long, the Stegosaurus roamed the Earth around 159 to 144 million years ago.

4. Triceratops

The mighty Triceratops is one of the more interesting dinosaurs thanks to its unique look. This dinosaur had three horns, two on each side of its head and one above its nose. Its mouth was the shape of a parrot's beak, which helped the animal eat through thick vegetation growth. The skull of the Triceratops had a frill running all around the back of its head. This frill, along with the three horns, was used to fend off predators, as some fossils indicate. This impressive animal roamed around on all fours, grew to about 30 feet in length and weighed about 5 tons. Fossils suggest that the Triceratops walked in the regions of North America.

5. Ankylosaurus

Just like the Stegosaurus, the Ankylosaurus was an armored dinosaur with bony plates covering its body. Its tail ended in a club and helped it ward off predators. The Ankylosaurus fossils show that this dinosaur lived approximately 70 to 66 million years ago. Paleontologists found fossils mainly in the U.S. and Canadian regions. It had grinding teeth with a strong beak at the front, perfect for biting through ferns and thorny plant material. The Ankylosaurus grew to be approximately 30 feet long and 10,000 pounds — but it could only travel about 3 miles per hour, which is about how fast we humans walk!

6. Brachiosaurus

The Brachiosaurus is unmistakable due to its long neck. This animal could grow up to 80 feet long and weigh up to 28 tons (56,000 pounds!). The size of the Brachiosaurus is due to it being part of the Sauropod family, the largest animal species in the entire animal kingdom. The neck of the Brachiosaurus is similar to a giraffe's neck, and its front legs are longer than its hind legs. This dinosaur lived from 156 to 145 million years ago during the Jurassic period. Scientists found its fossils primarily in the U.S., Portugal, Algeria and Tanzania.

7. Amargasaurus

Living during the Early Cretaceous period, the Amargasaurus had two sets of spines running along its back, which may have protected two sails of skin. It had a strong row of teeth for chewing tough plants and shrubbery and grew to around 30 feet in length. The Amargasaurus dinosaurs are smaller Sauropods with a long neck and a low skull, and their fossils were found in Argentina. 

8. Diplodocus

The Diplodocus is another dinosaur from the Sauropod family, which explains its impressive size. The Diplodocus could reach almost 100 feet in length, giving this dinosaur a remarkable statue. Its long neck enabled the animal to reach high trees, seek out low shrubs and reach for water to drink. It had rows of teeth, which indicate that this dinosaur ate tree leaves and soft plants. Walking on all fours, the Diplodocus lived during the Late Jurassic era, and paleontologists found its fossils in the regions of North America.

9. Pachycephalosaurus

A big name for a relatively small dinosaur, the Pachycephalosaurus reached around 16 feet long. It is most recognizable by the crown on its head, which is like a bowl encircled by small horns. The animal most probably used this bowl on its head to prevail during head-butting contests. This dinosaur stood on its two hind legs and had flat serrated teeth in the shape of curves. It lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 100 to 65.5 million years ago.

Small Herbivore Dinosaurs

Smaller dinosaurs evolved out of necessity. Their smaller size meant they could run from more powerful predators and hide in tiny spaces if necessary. Small Ornithischian dinosaurs could run fast on two legs thanks to their lighter weight and petite stature. To further help smaller dinosaurs, their petite size meant they could later evolve to continue their species. Some grew wings like birds or started to glide like reptiles.

1. Agilisaurus

Agilisaurus means "agile lizard," and these animals grew between 3 ½ and 6 feet long, making them around the size of an adult human — or kid. They lived around 170 to 157 million years ago during the Middle Jurassic period. 

2. Heterodontosaurus

At only 3 feet tall, the Heterodontosaurus is one of the smallest dinos on our list. Scientists discovered fossils of the Heterrodontosaurus in Lesotho, South Africa. This small dinosaur walked the Earth during the Jurassic period and was discovered in 1962. 

3. Lesothosaurus

As its name suggests, this small dinosaur was also discovered in Lesotho, South Africa. It also stood about 3 feet tall, so a human would have to crouch down to its size to look at it. It has small grinding teeth to tear through plant material easily. Walking the Earth during the Early Jurassic period, this little animal had five fingers on each of its hands and ran on two legs.

4. Lycorhinus

The Lycorhinus was about 4 feet tall and lived during the Jurassic period. Its name means "wolf snout," referring to a beak that resembled that of a wolf. This dinosaur used its protruding beak to access shrubbery and low-lying plants. 

5. Protoceratops

The Protoceratops were one of the more interesting-looking smaller dinosaurs. They had a flat and bony protrusion on their snout with a long neck. These animals walked around on all four legs and possibly lived in herds to look for resources and share food. They could grow to 6 feet long, making them relatively small compared to humans. Scientists called this animal Protoceratops as they thought it was the ancestor of the Triceratops. Recently, paleontologists have considered this dinosaur to represent the animals that led to the evolution of the Triceratops, though the Protoceratops are no longer thought to be direct ancestors of the Triceratops.

Fun Facts About Herbivores

Herbivore dinosaurs were fascinating, growing into huge giants or remaining rather small. The long necks of the more prominent species enabled them to eat from high trees, and their strong exterior helped them ward off predators. The more we learn about Herbivore dinosaurs, the more we realize how fascinating they are. 

1. Some Herbivores Didn't Chew Their Food

Sauropod dinosaurs couldn't chew the food they ate. With no cheeks or back teeth to sufficiently mash their food, they had to rake the plants and leaves from trees with their peg-like teeth. It's also believed they would swallow stones to help break up the food in their tummies. 

2. They Had Flat Teeth

The herbivore dinosaurs that could chew their food sported flat, wide teeth. The flat teeth with ridges enabled them to chew and grind their food so that they could digest it properly.

3. Scientists Identify Herbivorous Dinosaurs by Their Skulls

The skulls of herbivore dinosaurs were different from carnivores. Their necks and spines also give scientists an indication of how they digested their food. For example, Sauropods had compact skulls which rested on long necks. The journey their food would take from their mouths to their tummies meant their food had a longer time to process and digest. Rather than chew their food, their tummies fermented and broke down their food. 

A deep jaw and many teeth can identify Ornithischians' skulls. These features indicate that these dinosaurs chewed their food, and their tummies could digest it easily and in less time. 

4. These Dinosaurs Had the Best Appearance

Remember the impressive-looking Stegosaurus, with its spiked tail and plates running across its back? Herbivore dinosaurs had an exciting appearance, from horns on their heads to clubbed tails and long necks. The Triceratops, with the unique frill running across the back of its head, is also something to admire. We are fortunate that we can appreciate the beauty that roamed the Earth millions of years ago. 

5. Herbivore Dinosaurs Were Gassy

Because plants can take some time to digest and are pretty hard on the tummy, our herbivore friends were great at passing gas! They likely produced a gas called methane during the digestive process, making these animals some of the gassiest ones of their era. 

Explore Herbivorous Dinosaurs at Jurassic Gardens

Our plant-eating dinosaur friends were breathtaking, and we can learn a lot from reading about them and watching movies. So many facts and fossils tell an interesting story of survival, evolution and strength. If you've ever imagined what it would be like to see one of these gigantic animals in real life, you're not alone! That's why there are so many movies and museums that try to give us a sneak peek into the world of dinosaurs.

We bring the prehistoric world to life. Our highly interactive and informative Jurassic Gardens will keep you and your whole family entertained for hours. Enjoy an entire prehistoric experience with animatronic dinosaurs, plants, skeletons and sound effects. Jurassic Gardens also features information boards telling you more about the dinosaurs, and kids have the opportunity to dig for fossils. Children can also play in the dino-inspired theme park and even take pictures inside the mouth of a Tyrannosaurus model. Explore everything Jurassic Gardens has to offer today!