Dinosaurs: Gallimimus
Gallimimus was a small meat-eating Dinosaur that lived
during the late Cretaceous period. Gallimimus belonged to a group of Dinosaurs
called the Ornithomimids (Bird Mimics) named so due to their resemblance to
modern day flightless birds such as the Ostrich. Gallimimus was one of the
larger members of this group growing up to 20 feet (6 m) in length and weighing
about 900 pounds (400 kg). Other members of this group included Ornithomimus,
Pelecanimimus, and Struthiomimus.
Gallimimus had a very small head and, unlike other
meat-eating Dinosaurs, had a toothless beak. It is believed that Gallimimus
probably ate a diet of small mammals, lizards, eggs and probably even some
plants. Gallimimus had long slender arms ending in long three-fingered hands
which it probably used for digging and grabbing small animals or eggs.
Gallimimus had long hind limbs ending in three long
clawed toes. It had long shin and upper foot bones with a very high ankle joint,
making it perfectly designed for sprinting. A long tapered tail acted as a
counterbalance for its long neck and helped stabilise it through fast turns.
Some scientist believe that these dinosaurs could run as fast as an Ostrich,
sprinting up to 50 mph (80 kph).
Gallimimus (Chicken Mimic)
Pronounced: GAL-ih-MIME-us
Name Means: "Chicken Mimic"
Length: 20 feet (6 m)
Height: 8 feet (3.5 m)
Weight: 1,000 pounds (500 kg)
Diet: Omnivore (Insects,
Lizards, Eggs, Plants)
Time: Late Cretaceous - 70 million years ago
Habitat: River
Valleys
Fossils Found: Asia
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