# Ornithomimus (*Ornithomimus velox*)

Ornithomimus was a prehistoric dinosaur known for its distinctive features. Scientists study its bones to learn about how dinosaurs lived.

- **Category:** [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/ancient)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mesozoic forests and floodplains

![Ornithomimus](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ornithomimus_edmontonicus.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Sebastian Bergmann from Siegburg, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ornithomimus_edmontonicus.jpg)

## Appearance

The Ornithomimus is a slender, bird-like dinosaur with long, powerful legs built for speed. It has a long neck, a small, toothless beak, and a long tail for balance. Its overall appearance is often compared to a modern ostrich.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Fossil evidence suggests Ornithomimus might have had feathers!
- It could run as fast as a car, up to 70 kilometers per hour!
- It had huge eyes, probably helping it see well even in dim light.
- Ornithomimus means 'bird mimic' because it looks so much like an ostrich!

## Special abilities

- **Super Sprinter:** Ornithomimus can run incredibly fast because of its long, muscular legs that help it escape predators and catch small prey.
- **Keen-Eyed Forager:** Ornithomimus has excellent eyesight that helps them spot tiny insects, fruits, and even hidden eggs in the dense Cretaceous foliage.
- **Smart Snacker:** Ornithomimus has a versatile diet, allowing it to eat many foods, making it adaptable to different environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 3.5-4 m
- **Weight:** 100-150 kg
- **Era:** Late Cretaceous
- **Extinct Millions Years Ago:** 70

## Diet & Feeding

This dinosaur was an omnivore, eating a mix of plants, insects, eggs, and small animals.

- **Primary Foods:** Insects, Fruits, Eggs, Small lizards, Leafy plants
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Daspletosaurus (*Daspletosaurus torosus*) — A large predatory dinosaur that hunted Ornithomimus.
- **Hunts:** Didelphodon (*Didelphodon vorax*) — Ornithomimus preyed on small mammals like this ancient marsupial.
- **Eats:** Sycamore relative (*Platanites raynoldsii*) — Ornithomimus likely consumed the leaves and fruits of this plant.

## Traits

- [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.
- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient): Ancient refers to organisms, objects, or geological formations that have existed for an extremely long period.
- [Artifact](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/artifact): An artifact is an object made or modified by human culture, typically of historical or archaeological interest.
- [Fossil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fossil): A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an ancient organism embedded in rock or other geological deposits.

## Collections

- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/ancient)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

While extremely dangerous in their time, this creature is now extinct.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Ornithomimus?

Compare skull shape, horns, plates, limbs, posture and tail. Museum models and toys can mix features or follow outdated reconstructions. Dinosaur Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Ornithomimus?

3.5-4 m

### How much does Ornithomimus weigh?

100-150 kg

### What does Ornithomimus eat?

This dinosaur was an omnivore, eating a mix of plants, insects, eggs, and small animals.

### Where is Ornithomimus usually found?

Mesozoic forests and floodplains

### How does Ornithomimus hunt?

Foraging

### What geologic era did Ornithomimus live in?

Late Cretaceous

### When did Ornithomimus go extinct?

70

## More Ancient

- [Tyrannosaurus rex](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tyrannosaurus-rex) (*Tyrannosaurus rex*)
- [Triceratops](https://www.snappit.app/explore/triceratops) (*Triceratops horridus*)
- [Stegosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stegosaurus) (*Stegosaurus stenops*)
- [Brachiosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brachiosaurus) (*Brachiosaurus altithorax*)

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Source: [Ornithomimus: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ornithomimus)