Compsognathus longipes

† Once considered the smallest known dinosaur, Compsognathus longipes ('elegant jaw, long legs') is a Late Jurassic coelurosaur from the Solnhofen Limestone of Germany. About 1 metre long and weighing around 3 kg, it was a swift carnivore whose stomach contents preserve lizard remains. A contemporary of Archaeopteryx, it illuminates the close relationship between non-avian dinosaurs and early birds.

Diet & Feeding

Carnivore

Compsognathus longipes was a meat-eating predator. Carnivorous dinosaurs were active hunters or scavengers, equipped with sharp teeth and claws for catching and consuming prey. They occupied the top of the food chain in their ecosystems.

Time Period

Jurassic Late Mesozoic Era

Compsognathus longipes lived during the Jurassic Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 161.5 to 145.0 million years ago.

One of the most iconic periods for dinosaurs. Giant sauropods like Brachiosaurus and Diplodocus roamed alongside predators like Allosaurus. Archaeopteryx, the earliest known bird, appeared. The Morrison Formation preserves an extraordinary fossil record from this time.