Superfamily
Valid Extinct

Compsognatha

(Huxley 1869)

Compsognathidae is a potentially polyphyletic family of coelurosaurian theropod dinosaurs. Compsognathids were small carnivores, generally conservative in form, hailing from the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. The bird-like features of these species, along with other dinosaurs such as Archaeopteryx inspired the idea for the connection between dinosaur reptiles and modern-day avian species. Compsognathid fossils preserve diverse integument — skin impressions are known from four genera commonly placed in the group, Compsognathus, Sinosauropteryx, Sinocalliopteryx and Juravenator. While the latter three show evidence of a covering of some of the earliest primitive feathers over much of the body, Juravenator and Compsognathus also show evidence of scales on the tail or hind legs. "Ubirajara jubatus", informally described in 2020, had elaborate integumentary structures on its back and shoulders superficially similar to the display feathers of a standardwing bird-of-paradise, and unlike any other non-avian dinosaur currently described.

Temporal range
PBDB occurrences
0
Group
Dinosaures
Carnivore Ground dwelling, solitary Terrestrial
Compsognatha
click to enlarge
Compsognathidae skeletons to scale. © Jaime A. Headden (User:Qilong) · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia
PBDB Wikipedia
Classification
Dinosauria Unranked clade
Theropoda Unranked clade
Compsognatha Superfamily
Images 1
Bibliography
Original description
R. S. Lull. 1917. The Triassic flora and fauna of the Connecticut Valley. United States Geological Survey Bulletin 597:105-127