A Vegetarian Pterosaur?

Genesis teaches that originally every living creature was vegetarian—eating the plants, seeds, and fruits that God created. Since God’s creation was “very good” (Genesis 1:31) and the penalty for sin is death (Genesis 2:17), we know that there was no death—including animal death—in God’s original creation, so all creatures had to be vegetarian. Plants don’t have a nephesh like animals—they don’t die like animals. Plants were given for food. But I’m often asked about extinct creatures, like dinosaurs—were they vegetarian? Yes!

And how do I know for sure? Well, because God’s Word says so and God’s Word is true from the very first verse. And, of course, science confirms the Bible.

We find many examples of animal carnivory in the fossil record (we have an example here at the Creation Museum of a fish halfway through swallowing another fish). But that fossil record was formed after sin when death and disease had entered God’s creation. But even in a fallen world, we find examples of how things were meant to be when a creature that currently mostly eats meat, or an extinct creature that is assumed to have eaten meat, actually eats plants.

Even in a fallen world, we find examples of how things were meant to be when a creature that currently mostly eats meat, or an extinct creature that is assumed to have eaten meat, actually eats plants.

For example, I recently saw a headline that read “Pterosaur died with a belly full of plants—a fossil first.” A pterosaur (a flying reptile) fossil from northeastern China was found with its stomach—and stomach contents—preserved. The find was a “once-in-a-hundred-years discovery” as it showed “the fierce-looking winged creatures were not always carnivorous.”

Most researchers assume pterosaurs like this one (Sinopterus atavismus) ate meat, but a handful of scientists have argued that certain species may have eaten plants. And this new find confirms the minority view as the belly was full of plants.

This new find is a reminder of the biblical truth that originally all creatures were vegetarian. It was only after sin that certain kinds switched from a plant-based diet to a carnivorous diet, leading to the bloodshed we observe in nature today. But someday Jesus will return and restore his creation to what it once was, and nature will no longer be “red in tooth and claw.”

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.