Elmisaurus rarus

† Elmisaurus rarus is the type species of Elmisaurus, a caenagnathid oviraptorosaur from the Late Cretaceous Nemegt Formation of the Gobi Desert, Mongolia. The species name rarus ('rare') reflects the limited fossil material available at its 1981 description. An omnivore of approximately 2 m, it possessed fused distal leg bones and a toothless beak ideal for manipulating diverse food items. It is part of the diverse Nemegt fauna that included Tarbosaurus, Gallimimus, and giant oviraptorosaurs.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivore

Elmisaurus rarus had a varied diet that included both plants and animals. Omnivorous dinosaurs were versatile feeders, able to exploit multiple food sources, which gave them an advantage in changing environments.

Time Period

Cretaceous Late Mesozoic Era

Elmisaurus rarus 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.