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.
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
The end.
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