Dinosaurs & Prehistory - Dinosaurs - Gallimimus - Theropods - Cretaceous
What unusual feature did Gallimimus have in contrast to many other theropods?
Correct!
Gallimimus bullatus was a large ornithomimid from the Late Cretaceous of what is now Mongolia. Although it belonged to the theropods, i.e. the large group of dinosaurs that also includes Tyrannosaurus, Gallimimus had no teeth. Instead, it had a horn-covered beak. Its body structure was very reminiscent of a modern ratite: Gallimimus had a small head, a long neck, a light body, long hind legs and a long tail. Adults reached approximately six meters in length and are among the largest known ornithomimids. What exactly Gallimimus ate is not finally clear. Its toothless beak has been associated with eating small animals and insects as well as plant foods. Possible filter feeding from water or mud has also been discussed, but is controversial.
Gallimimus was a theropod, but had no teeth, but a horn-covered, completely toothless beak.
