Afromimus

Af-ro-my-mus.
Published on

Maeve Foster

Paleoclimatologist

Maeve Foster explores the Earth's climatic past to understand the forces that shaped life on our planet. Her research into ancient climate events provides valuable context for current environmental challenges.

Cite Feedback Print

Name

Afromimus ‭(‬Africa mimic‭)‬.

Phonetic

Af-ro-my-mus.

Named By

Paul Sereno‭ ‬-‭ ‬2017.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Dinosauria,‭ ‬Saurischia,‭ ‬Theropoda,‭ ‬Abelisauroidea‭?

Diet

Carnivore‭?

Species

A.‭ ‬tenerensis‭

Size

Tibia‭ ‬40‭ ‬centimetres long.‭ ‬Full body size unknown.

Known locations

Niger‭ ‬-‭ ‬Elrhaz Formation.

Time Period

Aptian/Albian of the Cretaceous.

Fossil representation

Partial lower leg and foot bones‭ (‬tibia,‭ ‬fibula,‭ ‬tarsals,‭ ‬phalanges‭)‬,‭ ‬rib and seven caudal‭ (‬tail‭) ‬vertebrae.

In Depth

       When the dinosaur Afromimus was first described in‭ ‬2017‭ ‬it was as an ornithomimosaur,‭ ‬however a later study in‭ ‬2019‭ ‬led to Afromimus being described as an abelisaur,‭ ‬specifically a noasaurid.‭ ‬Unfortunately Afromimus is still only known from partial remains,‭ ‬making details of this dinosaur difficult to know for certain.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Early Cretaceous ornithomimosaurs‭ (‬Dinosauria:‭ ‬Coelurosauria‭) ‬from Africa.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Ameghiniana.‭ ‬-‭ ‬54‭ (‬5‭)‬:‭ ‬576‭–‬616.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Paul Sereno‭ ‬-‭ ‬2017. -‭ ‬The phylogenetic position of Afromimus tenerensis Sereno,‭ ‬2017‭ ‬and its paleobiogeographical implications.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of African Earth Sciences.‭ ‬159:‭ ‬103572.‭ ‬-‭ ‬M.‭ ‬A,‭ ‬Cerroni,‭ ‬F.‭ ‬L.‭ ‬Agnolin,‭ ‬F.‭ ‬Briss�n Egli‭ & ‬F.‭ ‬E.‭ ‬Novas‭ ‬-‭ ‬2019.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT