Home › Dinosaurs › Avimimus

Avimimus

Filed under Cretaceous dinosaurs · Types of Dinosaurs editorial team

Reconstructed skeleton of a titanosaur, among the largest land animals — Photo: William Irvin Sellers, Lee Margetts, Rodolfo Aníbal Coria, Phillip Lars Manning, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Pronunciation

a-vih-MY-mus

Name means

Bird Mimic

Diet

Carnivore

Posture

Bipedal

Period

Late Cretaceous

Length

5 feet (1.5 meters)

Height

3.5 feet (1.1 meters)

Order: Saurischia · Suborder: Theropoda · Infraorder: Tetanurae · Family: Avimimidae

Fossils of Avimimus have been found in Mongolia and China. A small, birdlike dinosaur, Avimimus was probably a swift runner, preying upon lizardsand insects. Although the idea is disputed, Avimimus may have had featheredwings. It is distinct enough from other theropods to merit its own family.

Restoration of Spinosaurus, a large sail-backed predatory dinosaur — Photo: Brondon Bobah, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

More Cretaceous-period dinosaurs →

Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.

Frequently asked questions

What does Avimimus mean?

The name Avimimus means “Bird Mimic”. It is pronounced a-vih-MY-mus.

When did Avimimus live?

Avimimus lived during the Late Cretaceous.

Was Avimimus a carnivore or a herbivore?

Avimimus was a carnivore.

How big was Avimimus?

Avimimus was about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long, around 3.5 feet (1.1 meters) tall.

Related dinosaurs

Other dinosaurs from the Avimimidae family.

AcanthopholisHerbivore AcrocanthosaurusCarnivore AdasaurusCarnivore AeolosaurusHerbivore AfrovenatorCarnivore AlamosaurusHerbivore

Compare the dinosaurs

See size, diet, period and family for hundreds of dinosaurs side by side.

Compare dinosaurs →