Coelophysis vs Psittacosaurus

A detailed side-by-side comparison of Coelophysis and Psittacosaurus, covering size, diet, classification, geologic period, and discovery history.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Propriété Coelophysis Psittacosaurus
Nom scientifique Coelophysis bauri Psittacosaurus mongoliensis
Classification Theropoda Ceratopsia
Période Triassic Late Cretaceous Early
Alimentation Carnivore Herbivore
Longueur 3.0 m 2.0 m
Height 1.0 m 0.6 m
Poids 20 kg 20 kg
Année de découverte 1889 1923
Lieu de découverte Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, USA Mongolia
Nommé par Edward Drinker Cope Henry Fairfield Osborn

Size Comparison

Coelophysis 3.0 m

about the size of a human adult

Psittacosaurus 2.0 m

about the size of a human adult

Weight Comparison

Coelophysis 20 kg

lighter than a human adult

Psittacosaurus 20 kg

lighter than a human adult

Timeline Comparison

Coelophysis
237,0 Mya Triassic Late (Mesozoic) 201,4 Mya
Psittacosaurus
145,0 Mya Cretaceous Early (Mesozoic) 100,5 Mya

Diet Comparison

Coelophysis

Carnivore

Coelophysis was a meat-eating predator, hunting other animals for food.

Psittacosaurus

Herbivore

Psittacosaurus was a plant-eater, feeding on vegetation like ferns, conifers, and cycads.

Classification Comparison

Coelophysis

Clade: Saurischia

Group: Theropoda

(Beast feet)

Psittacosaurus

Clade: Ornithischia

Group: Ceratopsia

(Horned faces)

Did You Know?

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Coelophysis was a carnivore while Psittacosaurus was a herbivore.

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Coelophysis lived during the Triassic Late while Psittacosaurus lived during the Cretaceous Early, separated by roughly 56 million years.

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Coelophysis was discovered 34 years earlier, in 1889.

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Coelophysis belonged to Theropoda while Psittacosaurus belonged to Ceratopsia.

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