Garudimimus Facts
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 3.5m |
| Weight | 150 kg |
| Speed | 40 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Mongolia |

| Diet | Omnivore |
| Height | 1.5m |
| Length | 3.5m |
| Weight | 150 kg |
| Speed | 40 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Cretaceous |
| Period | Late Cretaceous |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | Mongolia |
Garudimimus was a swift-running theropod dinosaur that lived in what is now Mongolia during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 94 million years ago. Named after Garuda, the bird-like creature from Hindu and Buddhist mythology, this dinosaur was an ornithomimosaur - one of the 'bird-mimic' dinosaurs known for their ostrich-like appearance and running abilities.
Standing about 1.5 metres tall at the hip and measuring roughly 3.5 metres in length, Garudimimus was a medium-sized member of its group. Unlike many of its relatives, it retained small teeth in its jaws rather than having a completely toothless beak, suggesting it had a varied omnivorous diet that likely included small animals, insects, eggs, and plant material. Its long, powerful legs were built for speed, allowing it to reach impressive running speeds across the ancient Mongolian landscape.
The single known specimen of Garudimimus was discovered in 1981 by a Soviet-Mongolian paleontological expedition and described the same year by renowned Mongolian paleontologist Rinchen Barsbold. The fossil was found in the Bayanshiree Formation, and whilst initially some anatomical features were misinterpreted, a comprehensive redescription in 2005 provided clearer understanding of this fascinating dinosaur's anatomy and relationships.
Garudimimus retained small teeth in its jaws, unlike many other ornithomimosaurs which had completely toothless beaks. It had proportionally shorter arms than some of its relatives and displayed the characteristic long, powerful running legs typical of bird-mimic dinosaurs.
Garudimimus was likely a fast runner, using its powerful legs to escape predators across the Late Cretaceous landscapes of Mongolia. As an omnivore with small teeth, it probably spent time foraging for a variety of foods including small prey, vegetation, and possibly raiding nests for eggs.
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Saurischia |
| Order | Avetheropoda |
| Genus | Garudimimus |
Garudimimus was first described by Rinchen Barsbold in 1981. The original fossils were discovered at Bayanshiree Formation, Mongolia.