Ornithomimosaur

"bird-mimic lizard"

MID TO LATE CRETACEOUS PERIOD

80- 65 million years ago

The ornithomimids (also called the "ostrich dinosaurs") are a fascinating group of dinosaurs that thrived in the Mid to Late Cretaceous Period in Western North America and Mongolia.  In the original Jurassic Park film, a spectacular scene is digitally recreated where an enormous herd of these creatures are stampeding across an open plain.  The speed and method of locomotion in which they were depicted in the movie is scientifically accurate and gives us a glimpse as to not only what these dinosaurs might have looked like but also how they ran.

Reaching body lengths of 10 to 13 feet, these were relatively large dinosaurs but were very swift and graceful runners.  Very similar to a modern day ostrich or emu, an ornithomimosaur possessed a lightly constructed skeleton of hollow bones, long streamlined running legs, unusually large eyes and a large brain cavity.  

Their hand claws are not recurved and were not well-suited for catching prey.  Their most prominent feature is their long neck and long legs, each with a three-toed foot tipped with shorter claws than their hands possess.

The diet of ornithomimosaurs is widely speculated.  Lacking teeth yet highly intelligent and built for speed, it is most likely that these dinosaurs were omnivorous.  With no apparent means of defense, the ornithomimosaur's best answer to any perceived danger was its incredible ability for high-speed running, estimated to have approached 40 mph!

Ornithomimosaur remains have only been found in North America and East Asia.

The dinosaur specimens we offer are not limited to what is just shown here.  Please inquire as to any of your specific needs.  

Common misspellings:  Ornithomimusaur, Ornitomimus, Ornithimimus, Ornithomid