Pelecanimimus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pelecanimimus |
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| Restoration of P.polyodon | |
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Pelecanimimus
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polyodon
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Pelecanimimus (meaning "pelican mimic") is a fascinating theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now Spain. It's special because it had more teeth than almost any other theropod dinosaur. Most dinosaurs in its group, the Ornithomimosaurs, were actually toothless!
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What is Pelecanimimus?
Pelecanimimus was a type of dinosaur known as an Ornithomimosaur. These dinosaurs are often called "ostrich mimics" because they looked a bit like modern ostriches. They had long legs, long necks, and small heads. Pelecanimimus was an early or "primitive" member of this group. This means it had some features that later Ornithomimosaurs lost, like its many teeth.
Discovery and Name
The only known fossil of Pelecanimimus was found in Spain in 1993. It was discovered in a place called the La Huérguina Formation. Scientists Perez-Moreno and his team described it in 1994. They named it Pelecanimimus polyodon. The name Pelecanimimus means "pelican mimic." This is because its long snout and a possible throat pouch reminded scientists of a pelican. The second part of its name, polyodon, means "many-toothed," which perfectly describes its most unusual feature.
What Did It Look Like?
Pelecanimimus was a medium-sized dinosaur. It was about 2 to 2.5 meters (6.5 to 8 feet) long. This is roughly the size of a large ostrich or a human. It had a long, slender body, a long neck, and strong legs for running.
Its Unique Teeth
The most striking feature of Pelecanimimus was its mouth. Unlike most Ornithomimosaurs, which had beaks and no teeth, Pelecanimimus had around 220 tiny teeth! These teeth were very small and shaped like leaves. They were not sharp like the teeth of typical meat-eating theropods. This suggests that Pelecanimimus might have eaten different things.
Feathers and Crest
Like many theropods, Pelecanimimus likely had feathers. Scientists believe it had a small crest on the back of its head. This crest was probably made of keratin, the same material found in our fingernails. It might have been used for display, perhaps to attract a mate.
Where and When Did It Live?
Pelecanimimus lived during the Early Cretaceous period. This was about 130 million years ago. Its fossil was found in central Spain, which was a wetland area with lakes and rivers back then. It shared its habitat with other dinosaurs like Concavenator and early birds.
What Did It Eat?
The many small teeth of Pelecanimimus are a big clue about its diet. Most meat-eating dinosaurs had fewer, sharper teeth. The leaf-shaped teeth of Pelecanimimus suggest it might have been an omnivore. This means it ate both plants and small animals. It might have used its teeth to filter small creatures from the water, like a pelican, or to eat soft plants, insects, or small fish.
Images for kids
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Estimated size of Pelecanimimus, compared to a human.
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Pelecanimimus being chased by Concavenator
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Illustration of the skull from Pelecanimimus. The small crest in back of the head (colored in light grey) was probably made by keratin.
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Europejara and Pelecanimimus in an ecologic competition
See also
In Spanish: Pelecanimimus polyodon para niños
