Gallimimus

Template:Taxobox begin Template:StatusFossil Template:Taxobox begin placement Template:Taxobox regnum entry Template:Taxobox phylum entry Template:Taxobox classis entry Template:Taxobox ordo entry Template:Taxobox subordo entry Template:Taxobox norank entry Template:Taxobox familia entry Template:Taxobox genus entry Template:Taxobox end placement Template:Taxobox section subdivision G. bullatus (type)
G. mongoliensis
Template:Taxobox end Gallimimus ("chicken mimic") was an ostrich-like oviraptorosaur which existed in southern Mongolia during the Upper Cretaceous period. It was one of the largest ornithomimosaurs, reaching a maximum length of 4 to 6 meters (13-20 feet) and weighing as much as 440 kilograms (970 pounds).

The fossil remains of the this dinosaur were discovered in the early 1970s in the Gobi Desert. In 1972, it was named by paleontologists Rinchen Barsbold, Halszka Osmólska, and Ewa Roniewicz.

Gallimimus was probably able to run up to 70 kilometers per hour (43 miles per hour), like the modern ostrich, making it one of the fastest dinosaurs. It was indeed rather bird-like, with small heads, large eyes, long necks, short arms, long legs, and long tails. The eyes were placed on the sides of its heads, meaning that it did not possess binocular vision. Like most modern birds, it had hollow bones.

New fossils discovered by Peter J. Makovicky in the Gobi Desert in 2001 indicate that the Gallimimus may have possessed a comb-like filter in its beak, making it a filter-feeder like the modern flamingo. This find is notable not only because it questions previous theories which suggested that the Gallimimus was toothless, but because it is the first such feeding structure found in any dinosaur. The Gallimimus was mostly likely an omnivore, eating the small crustaceans, plant material, and insects it filtered from the water in streams and ponds.

A flock of running Gallimimus were featured in the film Jurassic Park.