Equijubus Dinosaur is an extinct genus of small, herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now North America. The genus is known from a single species—Equijubus normani—and is characterized by a short and tall skull with a low and rounded back. It was one of the last and smallest members of the Ornithomimosauria family, a group of small, bird-like theropods known for their long, slender necks. Equijubus normani was first discovered in the Hell Creek Formation of Montana and South Dakota in the early 2000s.
The species was named by paleontologists Hans-Dieter Sues and Jakob Vinther in 2007. The fossil remains included an almost complete forelimb and several other bones from the head and body. The skull of Equijubus normani is short and stout with a rounded and low back. It measures about 15 cm (6 in) in length and is one of the tallest skulls compared to other ornithomimosaurs. The skull has no teeth, which is common among Ornithomimosauria, but has ridges on the outside of the premaxillae, a feature that gives the genus and species its namesake. The body of Equijubus normani was lightly built and bird-like, with long legs that ended in five-clawed hands.
Equijubus Facts :
| Name: | Equijubus Dinosaurs |
| Size: | 1.2 metres (4.1 feet) |
| Main Facts: | The feet were highly curved, which suggest a hopping gait. The neck was long and slender, and the tail was comparatively short. |
The forelimbs were relatively long and slender, measuring about 1.2 metres (4.1 feet) in length. The diet of Equijubus normani consisted mainly of low-lying vegetation like bushes and shrubs. The finding of long, curved claws suggests that the animal was well adapted for digging and clawing at the ground in search of its food. The long, slender neck was probably used to reach for high-growing vegetation as well. When Equijubus normani was alive, North America was still part of the supercontinent of Laurasia. The climate was warm and humid, and the land was covered by lush vegetation.
The animal was probably prey for many of the larger predators of the time, such as Tyrannosaurus Rex and Albertosaurus. Equijubus normani is an example of an Ornithomimosauria that adapted to a very different environment. Its adaptations, such as long legs, a slim neck, and curved feet, allowed it to survive in a harsh world of large predators. The fossils of Equijubus normani may help us to better understand the evolution of small theropods and their adaptations to changing environments.
