VR Jurassic Encyclopedia #22
Gallimimus dinosaur facts VR 360 video education
This is the 22nd episode of our VR Jurassic Encyclopedia series where we take a closer look at different types of dinosaurs. In today’s episode, we move to the Late Cretaceous period to learn some interesting facts about Gallimimus! Watch the episode and check out our new article on this dinosaur.
Gallimimus was a dinosaur that lived about 70 million years ago (in the Late Cretaceous period) in what is now Mongolia. The animal is currently the largest known member of the family Ornithomimidae.
The first remains of this dinosaur were discovered in the Gobi Desert during a Polish-Mongolian expedition. During the expedition between 1963 and 1965 many dinosaur skeletons were collected, including those of Gallimimus. Three partially complete skeletons of this dinosaur and many fragmentary remains were unearthed. The largest skeleton was discovered by paleontologist Zofie Kielan-Jaworowska in Tsaagan, Khushuu in 1964. It also became the holotype of Gallimusa. Then in 1967, a small skeleton of this dinosaur was found, without front limbs. Unfortunately, the excavations were hampered by fossil poaching, which was a serious problem in Mongolia in the 21st century. Many dinosaur specimens have been looted as evidenced by the 2009 discovery of a fossil trace associated with a clenched gallimimim foot. It is speculated that the rest of the skeleton was removed by poachers.
Continuing with the description of this amazing dinosaur, let’s move on to its structure. As we wrote earlier, Gallimimus was the largest known member of the Ornithomimidae family. The adult holotype could have measured up to about 6 meters long and 1.9 meters tall at the hip. It is speculated that the dinosaur may have weighed as much as 440 kilograms. Juveniles measured about 2.15 meters long by 79cm high at the hip with a weight of 26 kilograms. Gallimimus was a toothless dinosaur with a rather long snout compared to other ornithomimids. The dinosaur’s neck was proportionally long compared to its torso. The animal’s arms were the shortest of all ornithomimosaurs.
The diet of this dinosaur continues to be a contentious issue among paleontologists. Some of them claim that Gallimimus fed on small, live prey and swallowed it whole. This could be indicated by the dinosaur’s build. There is also a theory that the animal was herbivorous and omnivorous because ostriches and emu are mainly predators and the skulls of ornithomimus were most similar to those of extinct moas, which were strong enough to bite off twigs as evidenced by the contents of their intestines.
Are you interested in this dinosaur? If so be sure to click on the link to the video embedded in the article and watch our VR Jurassic Encyclopedia #22. In the new episode, we tell you a little more about Gallimimus. Do not wait any longer to find out the next dose of dinosaur facts and continue our VR 360 video education about dinosaurs.