Struthiomimus altus

Struthiomimus altus was an ornithomimid dinosaur with a small toothless head, long neck, elongated hind limbs, and long three-fingered hands, giving it a striking resemblance to a modern ostrich. It stood roughly 1.5 meters tall at the hip and measured approximately 4 meters in length. Its lightweight body and long legs were built for speed.

Struthiomimus altus fossils have been found primarily in the Horseshoe Canyon Formation of Alberta, Canada, dating to the Late Cretaceous. The species was first described from specimens collected in what is now Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta. Ornithomimid fossils are also known from Alberta's Dinosaur Park Formation, though those are sometimes assigned to different species.

No, Struthiomimus altus had a toothless keratinous beak like other ornithomimid dinosaurs. This has led to ongoing debate about its diet, with proposed food sources including plants, seeds, insects, small animals, and eggs. The structure of its hands and beak suggest it may have been omnivorous.

While exact speeds cannot be determined from fossils alone, Struthiomimus altus had the long legs and lightweight body of a fast runner. Estimates based on limb proportions suggest it could potentially reach speeds comparable to modern ostriches, which can run at 60 to 70 km/h. Its ostrich-like build makes it one of the best candidates among non-avian dinosaurs for sustained fast running.