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Heleocola piceanus was a swamp dweller animal who lived nearly 75 million years ago during the Age of Dinosaurs around Colorado in the US.

They coexisted with dinosaur species such as tyrannosaurs, dromaeosaurs, oviraptorosaurs, and ornithomimosaurs.

Age

It lived approximately 75 million years ago in the Mesozoic Era of the Cretaceous Period.

Habitat

They lived in swamps and marshlands  around the inland sea  of the Colorado River.

Size

They were similar in size to a modern muskrat and were relatively large for mammals of the Cretaceous Period.

Diet

They primarily ate plants but they were omnivorous. They possibly consumed insects, small vertebrates, roots, fruits, and nuts.

Molar Characteristics

They had blunt crests, inflated cusps, and a low height differential in trigonid or talonid. These all are consistent with a plant-based diet.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the “Heleocola piceanus” recently seen in the news: 

1. It was a swamp dweller animal, which was the contemporary of the Age of Dinosaurs.
2. Their diet included only plant based sources.

Which of the above  statements are incorrect? 

A)1 only

B)2 only

C)1 and 2 only

D)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: 

Heleocola piceanus was a swamp dweller animal who lived nearly 75 million years ago during the Age of Dinosaurs around Colorado in the US.

They coexisted with dinosaur species such as tyrannosaurus, dromaeosaurs, oviraptorosaurs, and ornithomimosaurs.

It lived approximately 75 million years ago in the Mesozoic Era of the Cretaceous Period.

Statement 2 is incorrect: 

They lived in swamps and marshlands  around the inland sea  of the Colorado River. They primarily ate plants but they were omnivorous. They possibly consumed insects, small vertebrates, roots, fruits, and nuts.