Procompsognathus
| Procompsognathus Temporal range: Upper Triassic
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| Procompsognathus triassicus | |
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| Family: | Coelophysidae
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| Genus: | Procompsognathus
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Procompsognathus was a small, speedy theropod dinosaur. This meat-eater lived during the late Triassic period, about 210 million years ago (mya). It probably ate insects and lizards in a relatively dry, inland environment.[1]
Procompsognathus may have been about one meter long (3.3 ft),[2]
A biped, Procompsognathus had long hind legs, short arms, large clawed hands, a long slender snout with many small teeth, and a stiff tail. The tibia is approximately 20% longer than the femur in Procompsognathus. This suggests that they were good runners.[3]
References
- ↑ Frances Freedman & Tony Gibbons 1997. Looking at Procompsognathus: a dinosaur from the Triassic period. Gareth Stevens, 24.
- ↑ Holtz, Thomas R. Jr. (2011) Dinosaurs: the most complete, up-to-date encyclopedia for dinosaur lovers of all ages. Winter 2010 Appendix
- ↑ Coombs W.P Jr. 1978. Theoretical aspects of cursorial adaptations in dinosaurs. The Quarterly Review of Biology 53:393–418.