Dromiceiomimus brevitertius

†Dromiceiomimus brevitertius ('emu mimic with short third toe') is an ornithomimosaur theropod from the Late Cretaceous Horseshoe Canyon Formation of Alberta. Slender and lightly built at ~3.5 m, this herbivore-omnivore was among the faster dinosaurs, aided by long hindlimbs. Its short metatarsal III gave the species its name and may represent an adaptation for greater running speed.

Diet & Feeding

Herbivore

Dromiceiomimus brevitertius 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

Dromiceiomimus brevitertius 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.