Avimimus
portentosus -Kurzanov, 1981- skeleton
Archosauria: Saurischia: Maniraptora: Avimimidae
Locality:
Udan Sayr, Gobi Desert, southern Mongolia
Age: Late
Cretaceous (Campanian), 75 million years ago
A single known species of avimimids comes from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia.
This
very unusual dinosaur shares with birds some characters in the structure of the
forelimb and shoulder girdle.
Small carnivorous dinosaurs or theropods are believed
to have given rise to the birds.
The meaning of Avimimus, 'bird mimic' shows its
relationship to
birds. Its discoverer, Dr. Sergi Kurzanov, called it a dinosaur
that had
features in parallel with birds, perhaps even feathers.
The animal
may have had short wings of limited use for flight.
It may even have been warm
blooded.
