PRONUNCIATION | GAL-ee-MIME-us
SPECIES | Gallimimus bullatus
NAME | Chicken Mimics
FAMILY | Ornithomimidae
PERIOD | Cretaceous
DIET | Omnivore
SIZE | 20 feet (6m)
YEAR DISCOVERED | 1972
The long-limbed gallimimus is one of the more recent dinosaur discoveries that has led paleontologists to relate dinosaurs to birds. The similarity in morphology between birds and this dinosaur inspired the scientists to name it “Chicken Mimic.” At almost exactly the same size and proportion as an ostrich, it is easy to see the linked ancestry to the gallimimus. With their hollow bones, large eyes and toothless beaks, it is believed that all species of the Ornithomimidae family were direct relatives of modern birds.
With a small birdlike head and beak gallimimus would have fed on a variety of food such as insects and perhaps even small animals. Its large eyes would cast a wide arc and see well even in dim light.
Like many modern birds, this bipedal dinosaur would have fed upon a wide variety of food because of his sifting beak similar to that of a duck’s. The gallimimus could crunch small food like eggs and insects or even small rodents.
Without armor or horns, speed would have been the gallimimus’ main defense against the large predators of the Cretaceous period. Ostriches can run up to 40mph (64km), making them the fastest birds in the world. With its long legs and similar design, the gallimimus could likely reach similar or even greater speeds.
The gallimimus is often compared to the ostrich because of its long neck, small head, large eyes and other similar characteristics.
