Avimimus is an extinct group of dinosaurs that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 85 to 70 million years ago. This dinosaur was discovered in Mongolia and is known for its bird-like features. The name Avimimus means “bird mimic,” showing its resemblance to birds.
Discovery
Avimimus was first officially described in 1981 by a paleontologist named Sergei Kurzanov. It is believed that the fossils of Avimimus were originally found in a rock formation called the Djadokta Formation. However, later studies suggest that they might have come from a different rock layer called the Nemegt Formation, which is slightly newer.
The first species named was A. portentosus. For a long time, scientists thought that Avimimus did not have a tail, but further discoveries showed that it did have one. Another species, A. nemegtensis, was identified in 2018.
Description
Avimimus was a small dinosaur, measuring about 1.5 meters long, which is similar to the length of an adult human. It had a small skull with large eyes and possibly a large brain compared to its body.
Its mouth was likely shaped like a parrot’s beak, and it didn’t have teeth, which indicates it might have eaten plants, although some scientists think it may have also eaten insects.
Avimimus had a long and slender neck with vertebrae that were longer than those in similar dinosaurs. Its arms were shorter, and the bones were fused together, resembling modern birds. There are also signs that Avimimus had feathers and used them for display rather than for flying.
The dinosaur’s legs were very long and slender, suggesting it was a fast runner. The shape of its feet, with three toes and sharp claws, helped it run quickly.
Classification
Avimimus is related to a group of bird-like dinosaurs called oviraptorosaurs. Initially, it was thought to be closely related to birds, but modern research shows that it is part of a group that is more primitive than other early birds like Archaeopteryx.
Paleoecology
During the time Avimimus lived, the environment was mostly dry with some areas having streams. It was part of a diverse ecosystem that included other dinosaurs, primitive birds, lizards, and early mammals.
In summary, Avimimus was an interesting dinosaur with many features that resemble birds. Its discovery has taught scientists a lot about the diversity of life during the Late Cretaceous period.