Coelophysis vs Pteranodon
A detailed side-by-side comparison of Coelophysis and Pteranodon, covering size, diet, classification, geologic period, and discovery history.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Property | Coelophysis | Pteranodon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coelophysis bauri | Pteranodon longiceps |
| Classification | Theropoda | Theropoda |
| Period | Triassic Late | Cretaceous Late |
| Diet | Carnivore | Piscivore |
| Length | 3.0 m | 1.8 m |
| Height | 1.0 m | 0.6 m |
| Weight | 20 kg | 25 kg |
| Discovery Year | 1889 | 1876 |
| Discovery Location | Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, USA | Smoky Hill Chalk, Kansas, USA |
| Named By | Edward Drinker Cope | Othniel Charles Marsh |
Size Comparison
about the size of a human adult
about the size of a human adult
Weight Comparison
lighter than a human adult
lighter than a human adult
Timeline Comparison
Diet Comparison
Coelophysis
CarnivoreCoelophysis was a meat-eating predator, hunting other animals for food.
Pteranodon
PiscivorePteranodon was a fish-eater, specialized in catching aquatic prey.
Classification Comparison
Coelophysis
Pteranodon
Both dinosaurs share a common ancestor within the Theropoda clade.
Did You Know?
Coelophysis was about 1.7x longer than Pteranodon.
Coelophysis was a carnivore while Pteranodon was a piscivore.
Coelophysis lived during the Triassic Late while Pteranodon lived during the Cretaceous Late, separated by roughly 101 million years.
Pteranodon was discovered 13 years earlier, in 1876.
Both belong to the Theropoda clade, making them relatively close relatives.
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