Gallimimus
|
Gallimimus Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, 70 Ma |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Mounted skeleton cast, Natural History Museum, London | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Saurischia |
| Suborder: | Theropoda |
| Clade: | †Ornithomimosauria |
| Family: | †Ornithomimidae |
| Subfamily: | †Ornithomiminae |
| Genus: |
†Gallimimus Osmólska, Roniewicz & Barsbold, 1972 |
| Species: | †G. bullatus |
| Binomial name | |
|
Gallimimus bullatus Osmólska, Roniewicz & Barsbold, 1972 |
|
Gallimimus (/ˌɡælᵻˈmaɪməs/ GAL-i-MY-məs; meaning "chicken mimic") is a genus of ornithomimid theropod dinosaurs from the late Cretaceous period (Maastrichtian stage) Nemegt Formation of Mongolia. With individuals as long as 8 m (26 ft), it was one of the largest ornithomimosaurs.Gallimimus is known from multiple individuals, ranging from juvenile (about 0.5 m tall at the hip) to adult (about 2 m tall at the hip). The type species is G.bullatus, which means "capsuled chicken mimic".
Gallimimus was rather ostrich-like, with a small head, toothless beak, large eyes, a long neck, short arms, long legs, and a long tail. A diagnostic character of Gallimimus is a distinctly short 'hand' relative to the humerus length, when compared to other ornithomimids. The tail was used as a counterbalance. The eyes were located on the sides of its head, meaning that it did not possess binocular vision. Like most modern birds and other theropods, it had hollow bones. Gallimimus had a number of adaptations which suggest good running ability, such as a strong ilium, heavy tail base, long limbs, a long tibia and metatarsus, and short toes, but it is unknown how fast it could run. All ornithomimids had long skulls, but that of Gallimimus was exceptionally elongated, due to an elongation of the snout. The snouts of the juvenile specimens are much shorter.
...
Wikipedia