The Speedy Dinosaur
Gallimimus was a fast and agile dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, around 70 million years ago.
| Meaning | Chicken mimic [Galli-mimus] |
| Pronunciation | GAL-ih-MY-mus |
| When: | Late Cretaceous (about 70 million years ago) |
| Where: | Asia (Mongolia) |
| What: | Theropod (ornithomimid, herbivorous/omnivorous) |
| Weight: | Estimated around 440 kg (970 pounds) |
| Length: | Approximately 6 meters (20 feet) |
| Diet: | Omnivorous (likely ate small animals, insects, and plants) |
| Discovered: | First described by Halszka Osmólska, Rinchen Barsbold, and Ewa Roniewicz in 1972 |
Its name means “chicken mimic” because of its bird-like features, such as a small head with a beak, long legs, and a lightweight body.
Gallimimus belonged to the group of dinosaurs known as ornithomimids, or “ostrich-mimic” dinosaurs.
Gallimimus was relatively large for an ornithomimid, growing up to 6 meters (20 feet) in length and weighing around 440 kilograms (970 pounds).
Its long, powerful legs suggest it was capable of running at high speeds, possibly up to 50-60 kilometers per hour (30-37 miles per hour), making it one of the fastest dinosaurs.
Gallimimus had a toothless beak, which indicates that it might have been omnivorous, feeding on a variety of foods such as small animals, insects, and plants. Its large eyes suggest it had good vision, which would have been useful for spotting predators and finding food.