Weekly Insights for Thinkers

Science  Philosophy  Critical Thinking  History  Politics RW  AI  Physics  •  Evolution  Astronomy 30 Phil Book More…
Science  Phil  Cr. Think  Hist 

First Land Herbivore: Tyrannoroter heberti

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Author and Natural Philosopher

02 Feb 2026
Published 1 day ago.
Updated 1 day ago.

First Land Herbivore: Tyrannoroter heberti

307 million years ago
2026 Discovery Pushing Back Herbivores

An early reptile known as a microsaur, an amniote relative. A small, stocky stem-amniote tetrapod discovered in Nova Scotia, Canada. Its skull shows dental adaptations for processing tough plant material — large cheek musculature, grinding teeth, and a downturned snout suited for cropping low vegetation. While it probably also consumed insects and small prey, the dental morphology suggests this species was among the earliest vertebrates experimenting with significant plant consumption. This pushes the onset of terrestrial herbivory deeper into the Late Carboniferous than previously assumed and highlights that plant-eating was already part of some tetrapod diets before classic large herbivores like Diadectes and synapsids diversified. 

The end.
These short pieces do the quiet work of verification, ensuring that ideas remain grounded in reliable scholarship rather than repetition or assumption.
Each weekly edition of the TST Weekly Column consists of a central column supported by a research layer of stories, quotes, timelines, and FAQs.
Scroll to Top