Open Paleo

Dromiceiomimus

Russell, 1972 drom-i-SEE-o-MIEM-us

From Greek 'dromaios' meaning 'fast-running' (as in the emu genus Dromaius), 'mimos' meaning 'mimic', reflecting its resemblance to the emu; meaning roughly 'emu mimic'.

72.2–66.0 million years ago Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous
Late Cretaceous stages

Dromiceiomimus is a genus of ornithomimid theropod from the Late Cretaceous (early Maastrichtian) of Alberta, Canada. The type species, D. brevitertius, is considered a synonym of Ornithomimus edmontonicus by some authors, while others consider it a distinct and valid taxon. It was a small ornithomimid that weighed about 135 kilograms (298 lb).

Diagnosis

  1. Presacral vertebral column shorter than combined femur, tibia-astragalus, and metatarsal III lengths
  2. Posterior width of caudal centra less than half their length; tail transition point between caudals 12-13
  3. Tibia and metatarsus longer relative to femur than in Struthiomimus; enhanced cursorial adaptation
  4. Antilium and digit III of pes longer relative to femur; distinctive long-limbed proportions
  5. Metatarsal III unossified proximally, pinched out by metatarsals II and IV distally

Species

Dromiceiomimus brevitertius (Parks, 1926)

Type species

First named as Struthiomimus brevetertius

From Latin 'brevis' meaning 'short' and 'tertius' meaning 'third', referring to the proportionally shortened third metatarsal that distinguishes this taxon.

Holotype
ROM 797 , Royal Ontario Museum
Material
Sacrum, pelvic girdle, two complete hind limbs, four proximal and seven distal caudal vertebrae, two imperfect ribs
Horizon
Horseshoe Canyon Formation, Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous , 72.2–66.0 million years ago
Locality
east side of the Red Deer River, two miles below Bleriot Ferry, Alberta, Canada

References

  1. Parks, W. A. (1926). Struthiomimus brevetertius — A new species of dinosaur from the Edmonton Formation of Alberta. Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, series 3 20(4): 65-70.

    Original description, as Struthiomimus "brevetertius"; reassigned to the new genus Dromiceiomimus by Russell (1972).

    parks1926a
  2. Russell, D. A. (1972). Ostrich Dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Western Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 9(4): 375-402. Canadian Science Publishing. doi:10.1139/e72-031 russell1972a
  3. Paul, G. S. (2024). The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs (3rd ed.). Princeton University Press.

    Source of the body length estimate.

    paul2024a