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Archaeornithomimus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Superorder: Dinosauria
Order: Saurischia
Suborder: Theropoda
Infraorder: Coelurosauria
Family: ?Ornithomimidae
Genus: Archaeornithomimus
Binomial name
Archaeornithomimus asiaticus
Russell, 1972
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Archaeornithomimus (meaning "Before Bird Mimic") was an ornithomimosaur from late Cretaceous China, 80 million years ago. As its name suggests, this was the precursor to the more famous ornithomimid, Ornithomimus. Like other members of the ornithomimids, Archaeornithomimus was probably an omnivore, eating everything from small mammals, to plants and fruit, to eggs, and even hatchlings of other Asian dinosaurs. However, some scientists suggest that there is not enough evidence and fossil material to classify this dinosaur in any group or family.
The type species, A. asiaticus, was described by Russell in 1972. Archaeornithomimus was about 11 feet long, 6 feet in height, and weighed up to 110 pounds.
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