**Timimus: A Small Dinosaur from Australia**
Timimus is a small dinosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, about 106 million years ago. It was discovered in Australia and is known from fossilized knee bones.
**Discovery and Naming**
The first bones of Timimus were found in 1991 at Dinosaur Cove in southern Australia. Scientists Thomas Rich and Patricia Vickers-Rich named the dinosaur Timimus hermani in 1993. The name “Timimus” combines the names of the discoverers’ son Timothy and a Latin word meaning “mimic.” The specific name honors a volunteer named John Herman, who helped with the project.
The primary fossil used for study is a thighbone (femur) of an adult Timimus, which shows it was a slender animal. This thighbone measures about 44 centimeters long. Researchers estimated that Timimus could have reached around 2.5 meters in length.
**What Was Timimus Like?**
Timimus had some unique features. For example, its thighbone did not have certain grooves that are typically found in other dinosaurs, like the ornithomimosaurs. This suggests it might belong to a different group of dinosaurs, possibly related to the tyrannosaurs.
Another significant bone, the femur of a juvenile Timimus, was also found. However, some experts think this juvenile bone might belong to a different kind of dinosaur altogether.
**Living Environment**
During the time Timimus lived, Australia had polar forests. The summers were mild, but winters were cold and dark because the region was close to the South Pole. Studies of the bones suggest that Timimus could have had a hibernation-like behavior during the colder months.
**Classification and Evolution**
At first, Timimus was thought to be related to ornithomimosaurs, a group known for their bird-like features. However, later studies indicated that it might not belong to this group at all. Instead, some scientists believe Timimus could fit into a broader family of coelurosaurian dinosaurs.
Overall, Timimus helps scientists understand the variety of dinosaurs that lived in the southern part of the world during the Cretaceous period.
So, Timimus is a fascinating part of dinosaur history, showing us how diverse these ancient creatures were and how they adapted to their environments!