Fun Elmisaurus Facts For Kids

The Elmisaurus is a small theropoda oviraptorosauria. The generic name Elmisaurus is derived from the Mongol 'elmyi' or 'olmyi', which means 'foot sole', as one of their specimens is a metatarsus. This species is from Mongolia. The specific name means 'rare' in Latin terms. These species are classified among the Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda, and Caenagnathidae.

This North American therapod dinosaur is from the Late Cretaceous period of Campanian. The Elmisaurus females were oviparous theropods and reproduced young ones by laying eggs in clutches. Halszka Osmólska described the theropod dinosaurs and distinguished them from the Chirostenotes pergracilis of North America. It was discovered through specimens from the Upper Campanian Aguja Formation that these crested dinosaurs had feathers on their front limbs. Elmisaurus, which differed from the Chirostenotes pergracilis specimen, was an omnivore that ate small insects, invertebrates, small animals, and green plants. The second species, Elmisaurus elegans, was named in 1989 by Philip J. Currie.

If you enjoy reading this dinosaur article, then do read and learn some interesting facts about other dinosaurs, such as a Geranosaurus and a Protohadros.

How do you pronounce 'Elmisaurus'?

The pronunciation of Elmisaurus is 'El-me-sore-us'.

What type of dinosaur was an Elmisaurus?

The Elmisaurus specimen is from the extinct genus of caenagnathid dinosaurs of the Upper Campanian Aguja Formation. They were theropod dinosaurs belonging to the group of feathered Dinosauria, Oviraptorosauria. The Elmisaurus clade within Dinosauria, Saurischia, Theropoda and belongs to the family of Caenagnathidae. These dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous Theropoda are scientifically named Elmisaurus rarus.

Elmisaurus elegans, was categorized and closely related to Chirostenotes and was named Chirostenotes elegans, but there was a long debate between paleontologists bearing on the problem of bird origins. The second species, Elmisaurus elegans, was named in 1989 by Philip J. Currie.

In which geological period did the Elmisaurus roam the earth?

The dinosaur Elmisaurus rarus roamed the earth during the Campanian-Maastrichtian era of the Late Cretaceous period.

When did the Elmisaurus become Extinct?

The dinosaur Elmisaurus rarus went extinct 83.6 to 72.1 million years ago.

Where did the Elmisaurus live?

The Elmisaurus, an oviraptorosaur theropoda, was discovered and described by Halszka Osmólska in 1981. The second species, Elmisaurus elegans, was named in 1989 by Philip J. Currie. These theropod dinosaur fossils and specimens were discovered in the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia, named the Nemegt Formation. The first records of Elmisaurus rarus, a Late Cretaceous oviraptorosaur specimen, were found in western North America.

What was an Elmisaurus's habitat?

The Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia (Nemegt Formation) was a habitat of soft sediments in a flood basin, which looked like a desert area with low-lying vegetation.

Who did an Elmisaurus live with?

The exact group size of Elmisaurus and other theropods is unknown, but this species would live in a pack of two to five, including the male, female, and hatchlings.

How long did an Elmisaurus live?

The theropod dinosaurs Elmisaurus, discovered and described by Halszka Osmólska in 1981, lived from 83.6 to 72.1 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous period.

How did they reproduce?

The females were oviparous they laid eggs in clutches. From a few of the specimens recovered, it is evident that feathered-type species of Theropoda Oviraptorosauria would lay around a dozen eggs.

What did an Elmisaurus look like?

The Elmisaurus rarus, Saurischia Theropoda, from North America and Mongolia, as described by Halszka Osmólska, is a theropod dinosaur type species and distinguished from the Chirostenotes pergracilis of North America. This crested dinosaur had feathers on its front limbs.

The first records of Elmisaurus rarus, a Late Cretaceous oviraptorosaur specimen, were found in western North America.

How many bones did an Elmisaurus have?

The exact number of bones in this Theropoda Oviraptorosauria from North America and Mongolia is unknown.

How did they communicate?

There are no relevant resources available with regard to these Mongolian and North American theropod dinosaurs' communication, but from most of the specimens of dinosaur species, it is evident that they used tactile and olfactory cues and chemical smells to sense and alarm danger.

How big was an Elmisaurus?

The size of these Elmisaurus dinosaur species is estimated to be around 7 ft (2 m) with a height of 29.5-31.5 in (75-80 cm) at the hips.

How fast could an Elmisaurus move?

The exact speed of the Elmisaurus Saurischia theropoda from North America has not been evaluated and is unknown.

How much did an Elmisaurus weigh?

It is estimated that Elmisaurus weighed around 40 lb (18 kg).

What were the male and female names of the species?

The male and female do not have any specific names. Both the genders of the species are known by their generic names.

What would you call a baby Elmisaurus?

The babies of Elmisaurus are called hatchlings.

What did they eat?

The Elmisaurus are differentiated from Chirostenotes pergracilis as the former were omnivores and fed on both small insects, invertebrates, the flesh of small animals, and green plants.

How aggressive were they?

There is no specific information about how aggressive these crested dinosaurs were, but they are regarded as omnivores and fed on flesh.

Did you know...

The second species, Elmisaurus elegans, was categorized and closely related to Chirostenotes and was named Chirostenotes elegans, but there was a long debate between paleontologists bearing on the problem of bird origins.

The second species, Elmisaurus elegans, was named in 1989 by Philip J. Currie.

How was Elmisaurus discovered?

Elmisaurus was first discovered and described by Halszka Osmólska and her specimens were recovered from Upper Cretaceous Mongolia (Nemegt Formation). This species is closely related to the North American Chirostenotes elegans, which was previously called Elmisaurus elegans.

Was Elmisaurus a theropod?

Yes, Elmisaurus was a theropod and clade within the feathered Dinosauria Oviraptorosauria.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly dinosaur facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other creatures from our Tanycolagreus facts and Stegopelta fun facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Elmisaurus coloring pages.

Main image by MCDinosaurhunter.

Second image by PaleoNeolitic.

*We've been unable to source an image of Elmisaurus and have used an image of Anzu wyliei instead as main image. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of Elmisaurus, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected].