Aepyornithomimus tugrikinensis

†Aepyornithomimus tugrikinensis was an ornithomimosaur theropod from the Late Cretaceous (~85 Ma) of Mongolia. A large, ostrich-like bipedal omnivore, it was named by Tsogtbaatar et al. in 2017. The name means 'Aepyornis mimic,' reflecting its resemblance to the giant elephant bird. Found in the Bayn Shire Formation, it illuminates ornithomimosaur diversity in Asia.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Aepyornithomimus tugrikinensis was a plant-eating dinosaur. Herbivores typically fed on ferns, cycads, conifers, and other vegetation available during their era. Many herbivorous dinosaurs developed specialized teeth and digestive systems for processing tough plant material.

Time Period

Cretaceous Late Mesozoic Era

Aepyornithomimus tugrikinensis lived during the Cretaceous Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 100.5 to 66.0 million years ago.

The final age of dinosaurs, featuring iconic species like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor. Dinosaurs reached their peak diversity before the catastrophic asteroid impact at the Chicxulub crater ended the Mesozoic Era.