Arkansaurus fridayi

†Arkansaurus fridayi was an ornithomimosaur herbivore-omnivore of the Early Cretaceous, discovered in Arkansas, United States—the only dinosaur officially described from that state. Known from fragmentary foot bones, it was a bipedal runner estimated at 3–5m in length. Formally described in 2019 after its initial discovery in the 1970s, it significantly expands the known distribution of North American ornithomimosaurs.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Arkansaurus fridayi 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 Early Mesozoic Era

Arkansaurus fridayi lived during the Cretaceous Early period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 145.0 to 100.5 million years ago.

The Cretaceous saw continued dinosaur evolution with the rise of ornithopods and early ceratopsians. Flowering plants first appeared and began to transform terrestrial ecosystems. Spinosaurus and other large theropods lived during this time.