What Were the Most Friendly Dinosaurs in History?
When we think about dinosaurs and their personalities, “friendly” isn’t often the first word to come to mind. While they may not have been as pleasant as modern pets and other animals we love, that doesn’t mean all dinosaurs were prone to fighting other creatures. In fact, species such as the Stegosaurus, Iguanodon, and Diplodocus were likely herbivores that were far from aggressive. Let’s get into some of the friendliest dinosaurs in history.
Stegosaurus
The Stegosaurus was a notorious herbivore that lived in what is now the United States during the late Cretaceous period. Since this dinosaur only ate plants, it didn’t bother other animals unless it had to defend itself from an aggressive predator. To protect itself, the Stegosaurus may have swung its spiked tail at attackers.
Aside from being plant-eaters, many paleontologists suspect that Stegosaurs were likely friendly because they lived and/or migrated in groups. This means that they regularly engaged in higher levels of social interaction compared to dinosaurs that led solitary lives.
Iguanodon
The Iguanodon is next on our list of the friendliest dinosaurs in history. This herbivorous dinosaur lived during the early Cretaceous period in what is now Belgium and the United Kingdom.
Fossil evidence, including bone beds and tracks, indicates that the Iguanodon may have traveled in groups, meaning it relied on social systems to survive. Since the animals lived and moved in herds, some scientists suspect that they also had social structures, as seen with most modern animals.
Diplodocus
Lastly, we have the Diplodocus, which lived during the Late Jurassic period in what is now North America. Most of us recognize this herbivore by its long neck and tail; as a sauropod, this dinosaur would have been a gentle giant.
Similar to other herbivores, it’s possible that the Diplodocus lived or traveled in small groups to protect itself from predators. This dinosaur would likely would have spent more time grazing on soft plants and leaves rather than picking fights with other animals, making it appear friendly.
Were There Other Friendly Dinos?
The gentlest dinosaurs were herbivores because there’s no chance they’d see other animals as a potential food source. Although the Stegosaurus, Iguanodon, and Diplodocus make the list as the friendliest, they’re far from the only ones. Beasts such as the Triceratops, Brachiosaurus, and other herbivores likely shared some of those gentle behaviors.
While herbivores were more approachable than most carnivores, that doesn’t mean they align with what we’d consider “kind” today. Any dinosaur could still attack other animals if frightened or provoked, including these creatures.
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