COMPSOGNATHUS

genus of very small predaceous dinosaurs in Europe during the Late Jurassic Period (163 to 144 million years ago). One of the smallest of known dinosaurs, Compsognathus grew only about as large as a chicken, with a length of about 60 cm (2 feet) and a weight of about 5.5 kg (12 pounds). A swift runner, it was lightly built and had a long neck and tail and strong hind limbs. Of special interest is a tiny skeleton preserved within the rib cage of one fossil Compsognathus that was once mistakenly thought to be an embryo; further study has shown it to be a tiny lizard, thus documenting the predatory habits of Compsognathus.