Pelecanimimus

dinosaurs · Spain · unusual teeth

Teeth everywhere. Pelecanimimus had around 260 tiny teeth in its mouth, way more than almost any other ornithomimosaur. Most of its relatives evolved to be completely toothless, which makes Pelecanimimus truly special.

Built like an ostrich. This dinosaur was small and speedy, probably about 6 feet long, with long legs perfect for running fast. It belonged to a dinosaur family called ornithomimosaurs that looked remarkably like modern ostriches.

Very ancient. Pelecanimimus lived during the Early Cretaceous period in what is now Spain, making it around 120 million years old. It lived long before the famous T-rex and Triceratops ever roamed the Earth.

Primitive relative. Scientists call Pelecanimimus a 'basal' ornithomimosaur, meaning it was closer to the common ancestor of its whole family. This makes it super important for understanding how dinosaurs evolved over time.

Spanish discovery. Pelecanimimus fossils were found in Spain, giving us clues about what dinosaurs lived in Europe during the Cretaceous. Each fossil discovery helps us piece together ancient worlds that disappeared millions of years ago.