Procompsognathus
Order: Saurischia · Suborder: Theropoda · Infraorder: Ceratosauria (not confirmed) · Family: Segisauridae (family not firmly confirmed)
Procompsognathus was once thought to be one of the most primitive known coelurosaurs, resembling Compsognathus. It had hollow bones, a long flexible neck, long hind legs, and a long tail. Its hands had four fingers each, and its feet had three forward-pointing toes and a dew claw. However, the skull with which its skeleton was crowned did not, unfortunately, belong to Procompsognathus but to either a different dinosaur or a crocodilian. With the spurious skull removed, Procompsognathus' is no longer identified as a coelurosaur. It is now thought to have been a ceratosaur.
More Triassic-period dinosaurs →
Reference background: Natural History Museum, London — Dinosaurs; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs; American Museum of Natural History — Dinosaurs & Fossils. Figures are typical published ranges; taxonomy follows the source era and modern consensus is noted where it differs. See our sources & fact-check policy.
Frequently asked questions
What does Procompsognathus mean?
The name Procompsognathus means “Before Elegant Jaw”. It is pronounced pro-komp-sog-NATH-us.
When did Procompsognathus live?
Procompsognathus lived during the Late Triassic.
Was Procompsognathus a carnivore or a herbivore?
Procompsognathus was a carnivore.
How big was Procompsognathus?
Procompsognathus was about 4 feet (1.2 meters) long, around 2.5 foot (0.8 meters) tall.
Related dinosaurs
Other dinosaurs from the Segisauridae family.
Compare the dinosaurs
See size, diet, period and family for hundreds of dinosaurs side by side.
Compare dinosaurs →