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Water
parrot-like
many teeth
square head
Correct!
This is the most well-known feature of Pelecanimimus.
Scientific Name: Pelecanimimus polyodon
Pronunciation: pel-ih-can-nih-MY-muss PAH-lee-uh-don
Meaning: "pelican mimic"
Locality Found: Las Hoyas, Cuenca, Spain
Age: Early Cretaceous, 125 million years ago
Size: 1.8 to 2.1 meters (6 to 7 feet) long
Characteristics: Pelecanimimus had approximately 220 teeth, which is more than any other theropod.
The word "polyodon," in the species name, means:
Pelecanimimus means "pelican mimic." This name was chosen because this fossil:
was found with a bellyful of fish
had webbed feet
appeared to show a pelican-like throat pouch
Correct!
Scientists originally thought the fossil showed skin impressions of a throat pouch. Some scientists today aren't sure of this.
Everything scientists know about Pelecanimimus is based on just the front half of its skeleton.
Fact
OR
Fiction
?
Fact
The only Pelecanimimus specimen is incomplete. Scientists base its full appearance on complete skeletons of other ornithomimids.
Only one fossil of this dinosaur has ever been found.
Fact
OR
Fiction
?
Fact
Like many dinosaurs, Pelecanimimus is known from a single specimen.