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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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Ornithomimus
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1992-09-02
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Ornithomimus
TIME: Late Cretaceous
LOCALITY: North America (Colorado and
Montana) and Asia (Tibet)
SIZE: 11 ft 6 in/3.5 m long
This ostrich dinosaur was the typical
ornithomimid. It had a small, thin-boned head
with a large brain cavity, beaklike jaws and
no teeth.Ornithomimus would have sprinted
along with its body parallel to the ground,
balanced by its extra-long, outstretched
tail. This was kept stiff by strong ligaments
that lashed the vertebrae together, to form a
rigid structure. Its neck would have curved
upward in a long S-bend, holding the head
high for good visibility through the large
eyes. The arms would have dangled above the
ground, with the dextrous clawed fingers held
ready to grasp potential food.Like other
ornithomimids, Ornithomimus was probably
omnivorous, eating leaves, fruit, insects and
small animals, such as lizards and mammals.
It may even have raided the nests of other
dinosaurs and eaten their eggs, pecking
through the shells with its horny beak. If it
were caught by an enraged parent, it would
have employed its only means of
defense--running away at a speed, it is
estimated, of up to 30 mph/50 kmph.
Subject by: Russell Webb