STRUTHIOMIMUS

genus of ostrichlike dinosaurs found as fossils in North America and dating from the Cretaceous Period (144 to 66.4 million years ago). Struthiomimus was about 2.5 m (8 feet) long and was a slender, lightly built biped obviously adapted for rapid movement on well-developed and strong hind limbs with three-toed, very birdlike feet. The small, light skull was perched atop a long, slender, and very flexible neck. The forelimbs were long and slender; they terminated in a three-fingered hand that had sharp claws adapted for grasping. The tail, long and slender, probably balanced the body and neck when the animal ran. The jaws of Struthiomimus were toothless and probably covered with a rather birdlike horny beak. It has been suggested that Struthiomimus and related forms fed upon the eggs of other dinosaurs. See also Ornithomimus.