Archaeornithomimus

Say it like this: “AHR-kee-or-NITH-o-MIEM-us”

Archaeornithomimus asiaticus

Archaeornithomimus ate plants and walked on two legs. It lived in the Late Cretaceous. Bones have been found in China.

Quiz me on Archaeornithomimus

When: Late Cretaceous (Coniacian · Santonian · Campanian) · roughly 89.8 to 72.2 million years ago
Named in: 1972 · Russell, D. A.
Hip height: 0.9 m · 3 ft
Length: 3.4 m · 11 ft
Weight: 72 kg · 159 lb
Found in: China · Iren Dabasu
Food and walking: Herbivore · Two legs
Kind: sharp-clawed runner · Theropod
Family branch: Ornithomimidae

The story in short

In 1972, D. A. Russell published the name Archaeornithomimus. The name means “ancient bird mimic.”

Fossils referred to Archaeornithomimus date to the Late Cretaceous (Coniacian · Santonian · Campanian), roughly 89.8 to 72.2 million years ago. Finds come from China, including the Iren Dabasu Formation. It was a herbivore and walked on two legs.

Published estimates put Archaeornithomimus at a length near 3.4 m, hips about 0.9 m high, and a body mass around 72 kg.

On the family tree it sits in Ornithomimidae, among the theropod dinosaurs.

Close relatives

Aepyornithomimus

Aepyornithomimus tugrikinensis

Late Cretaceous (Campanian) · roughly 83.6 to 72.2 million years ago

Anserimimus

Anserimimus planinychus

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago

Dromiceiomimus

Dromiceiomimus brevitertius

Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) · roughly 72.2 to 66 million years ago