Archaeornithomimus

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Archaeornithomimus Fossil range: Late Cretaceous
Archaeornithomimus skeleton displayed in Hong Kong Science Museum.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Superorder: Dinosauria Order: Saurischia Suborder: Theropoda Infraorder: Ornithomimosauria Family: ?Ornithomimidae Genus: Archaeornithomimus
Binomial name
Archaeornithomimus asiaticus Russell, 1972

Archaeornithomimus (meaning "Before Bird Mimic") is a genus of ornithomimid dinosaur from late Cretaceous China, 80 million years ago. As its name suggests, this was the precursor to the more famous ornithomimid, Ornithomimus. Like other members of the ornithomimids, Archaeornithomimus was probably an omnivore, eating everything from small mammals, to plants and fruit, to eggs, and even hatchlings of other Asian dinosaurs. However, some scientists suggest that there is not enough evidence and fossil material to classify this dinosaur in any group or family.

The type species, A. asiaticus, was described by Dale Russell in 1972. Archaeornithomimus was about 3.3 meters (11 ft long, 1.8 meters (6 ft) in height, and weighed up to 50 kilograms (110 lb).

Foot bones found in Maryland that were originally identified as Ornithomimus are now classified as belonging to another species, Archaeornithomimus affins, although other scientists say that they came from a small predator.

Archaeornithomimus skull close-up

Mounted speciment of Archaeornithomimus asiaticus on display at the Beijing Museum of Natural History

[edit] References

• Archaeornithomimus in The Dinosaur Encyclopaedia, at Dino Russ's Lair