Compsognathus

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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Compsognathus | status = Conservation status: Fossil | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Sauropsida | superordo = Dinosauria | ordo = Saurischia | familia = Coeluridae | genus = Compsognathus Wagner, 1859 }} {{Paleobox | color = pink | name = Compsognathus | meaning = "elegant jaw" | length = 28 to 50 in (0.7 to 1.3 m) | height = 1 ft (30 cm) | weight = 6.5 lb (3 kg) | mode = biped | era = Jurassic | span = 155 to 154 million years ago | diet = Carnivore | specdiet = lizards, insects, small mammals | environment = forest | distribution = central Europe | comments = May have had simple feathers
}}

Compsognathus (komp-SOG-nath-us) meaning "elegant jaw" (Greek kompos = elegant + gnathos = jaw) was a small theropod dinosaur that lived in the late Jurassic of Europe, with fossil finds from Germany, France and perhaps Portugal. Though traditionally often cited as the smallest dinosaur, several others are now known to have been smaller (e.g. Microraptor, Parvicursor, and Caenagnathasia).

Compsognathus is known from two nearly complete skeletons, one from Germany that is 90 cm long, and another from France that is 125 cm; other skeletons indicate a size range from 70-140 cm. Teeth from Portugal have also been assigned to the genus. Although the French specimen was originally described as a separate species (Compsognathus corallestris), both it and the German specimen are now thought to be Compsognathus longipes. A partial foot has also been referred to Compsognathus, but this has subsequently been disproven.

Compsognathus may have had only two fingers, since no bones of a third finger have been found. However, the hands are disarticulated, so this is still uncertain. It appears that Compsognathus preyed on small vertebrates, since remains of the lizard Bavariasaurus have been found in its thoracic cavity.

For many years, Compsognathus was the only well known small theropod, and was thus compared to Archaeopteryx as a dinosaurian ancestor or relative of birds. It is now known that many other kinds of dinosaurs were more closely related to birds, including Segnosaurus, Oviraptor and Deinonychus. It is often argued that Compsognathus lacked feathers, because none are preserved with either skeleton, while Archaeopteryx, which was found in the same sediments, always preserves feathers. However, the only feathers always preserved on Archaeopteryx are the large ones on the wings and tail. The short feathers which cover the body are rarely preserved. A relative of Compsognathus, Sinosauropteryx, only has short feathers, so it is possible Compsognathus was feathered too.

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In popular culture

Compsognathus appeared in the movies The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park 3. In The Lost World they were shown as being very social animals that hunted in packs. A pack of these animals attacked a girl, wounding her, and other pack killed a man who had fallen down a cliff. In Jurassic Park 3 they were not as vicious, seen only eating insects.

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