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Gallimimus

Life restoration of Triceratops in its Cretaceous environment
Charles Robert Knight, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pronunciation
gal-uh-MY-mus
Name means
Chicken Mimic
Diet
Carnivore
Posture
Bipedal
Period
Late Cretaceous
Length
18 feet (5.5 meters)
Height
11 feet (3.4 meters)
Weight
260 pounds (118 kg)

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

Found in southern Mongolia, Gallimimus is the largestornithomimid to be discovered, and the only one for which agood skull has been recovered. The skull reveals that Gallimimus'snout was like that of a modern-day goose -- flattened at the end. Its neck was long and mobile, suggesting the ostrich, which it resembles. Its hands were thin and probably too weak for strong grasping.

Mounted Allosaurus skeleton, a large Jurassic predatory dinosaur
Photo: Jens Lallensack, CC BY-SA 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 Gallimimus mean?

The name Gallimimus means “Chicken Mimic”. It is pronounced gal-uh-MY-mus.

When did Gallimimus live?

Gallimimus lived during the Late Cretaceous.

Was Gallimimus a carnivore or a herbivore?

Gallimimus was a carnivore.

How big was Gallimimus?

Gallimimus was about 18 feet (5.5 meters) long, around 11 feet (3.4 meters) tall, weighing up to 260 pounds (118 kg).

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