The Tiny Hunter of the Jurassic
Compsognathus was one of the smallest dinosaurs that ever lived, roaming the Earth around 150 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period.
| Meaning | Elegant jaw [Compso-gnathus] |
| Pronunciation | komp-SOG-nuh-thus |
| When: | Late Jurassic (150 million years ago) |
| Where: | Europe (Germany, France) |
| What: | Theropod Theropod |
| Weight: | 0.5–3 kg |
| Length: | 0.6–1.4 meters |
| Diet: | Carnivorous (small vertebrates, insects) |
| Discovered: | 1861 (Johann Andreas Wagner) |
Imagine a dinosaur about the size of a chicken but with a long, slender body and a tail almost as long as its body.
Compsognathus was a speedy runner, darting through the forests and grasslands on two nimble legs. It had sharp teeth and claws, which it used to catch insects, small lizards, and even other tiny dinosaurs for its meals.
This pint-sized predator lived in what is now Europe and is often called the “dachshund of the Mesozoic” because of its small size and elongated shape.
Compsognathus shows us that even the smallest creatures can be fierce hunters in the world of dinosaurs!