Anserimimus
Name:
Anserimimus
(Goose mimic).
Phonetic: An-ser-e-mime-us.
Named By: Rinchen Barsbold - 1988.
Classification: Chordata, Reptilia, Dinosauria,
Saurischia, Theropoda, Ornithomimidae.
Species: A. planinychus (type).
Diet: Uncertain but possible omnivore.
Size: Estimated at 3 meters long.
Known locations: Mongolia, Bayankhongor Province
- Nemegt Formation.
Time period: Early Maastrichtian of the Cretaceous.
Fossil representation: Articulated skeleton, but
skull and mandible (lower jaw) are unknown.
With
an
estimated length of around three meters long Anserimimus
was towards
the smaller end of the scale in terms of ornithomimosaur
size. Other
related dinosaurs from the same area such as Gallimius
would have been
at least double this size, while the very incomplete Deinocheirus
would have been even larger than this. It’s most likely that these
variations in total size were down to each genus taking up a different
position in the ecosystem, growing to sizes that allowed them to best
fit their roles.
Anserimimus
is most different
to other ornithomimids by the structure of the arms which are
powerfully built with almost straight claws that are only slightly
curved growing from the fingers. The actual hand bones themselves
were fused which resulted in the hand being stiffened to maintain its
shape. It would seem that this hand and arm structure evolved for a
very practical and physical purpose given the much stronger
development, but how and why this worked is still unknown for certain.
Further reading
- A new Late Cretaceous ornithomimid from the Mongolian People's
Republic. - Paleontological Journal 1988(1):122-125. - R. Barsbold -
1988.
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