Ornithomimus velox Marsh, 1890, gen. et sp. nov.
Creators: name: Marsh, O. C.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 1890
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia
Dinosauria
Ornithomimidae
Ornithomimus
Ornithomimus velox

description: <i>Ornithomimus velox,</i> gen. et sp. nov. The high degree of specialization in the reptiles above described has a partial parallel in a small group of typical <i>Ornithopoda</i> from the same horizon. Various specimens of these, recently secured, represent a distinct genus and several species. The most marked characters already determined are manifest in the limbs and feet, and these have been selected for description in the present notice. A typical example is shown on Plate I, figures 1-3, which is the type specimen of the species here described. On the distal part of the tibia represented in figure 1, the astragalus is seen in place, with a very large ascending process, larger than in any dinosaur hitherto known. The calcaneum is also shown in position, but the slender fibula is absent. This bone was complete, but of little functional value. The tibia and all the larger limb bones were hollow, with thin walls, as indicated in the section, figure 1, c. In figure 5, the corresponding parts of a young ostrich are shown for comparison. The slender, incomplete fibula is in place beside the tibia. The astragalus with its ascending process, and the distinct calcaneum, are also shown in position. The almost exact correspondence of these different parts in the bird and reptile will be manifest to every anatomist. The most striking feature of the foot belonging with the reptilian tibia is shown in the metatarsals represented in figure 2, A. These are three in number, and are in the same position as in life. They are the three functional metatarsals of the typical <i>Ornithopoda</i> and of Birds. The distal ends of these bones correspond in size and relative position in the two groups, but here, in the present specimen, the reptilian features cease, and those of typical Birds replace them. In all the reptiles known hitherto, and especially in Dinosaurs, the second, third, and fourth metatarsals are prominent in front, at their proximal ends, and the third is usually the largest and strongest. In birds, the place of the third is taken above by the second and fourth, the third being crowded backward, and very much diminished in size. This character is well shown in figure 6, which represents the second, third, and fourth metatarsals of a young turkey, with the tarsal bones absent. In the reptilian metatarsals seen in figure 2, the same arrangement is shown, with the tarsals in place. The second and fourth metatarsals have increased much in size in the upper portion, and meet each other in front. The third metatarsal, usually the largest and the most robust throughout, here diminishes in size upward, and takes a subordinate, posterior position, as in birds. The correspondence between the metatarsals of the bird and reptile are here as strongly marked as in the tibiae and their accompanying elements, above described. In figure 3, the three phalanges represented belong with the second metatarsal, ard were found together in place. The three metacarpals represented in figure 4 were found together in position, near the remains of the hind limb here described. Their very small size indicates that they may possibly belong to a smaller individual, but, with this exception, there is no reason why they do not pertain to the same specimen as the hind foot. The remains of the present species here described were found in the Ceratops beds of Colorado.
description: Published as part of <i>Marsh, O. C., 1890, Description of new dinosaurian reptiles, pp. 81-87 in American Journal of Science 39 (229)</i> on pages 84-85, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3375239