History UsefulNotes / PrehistoricLifeOtherSmallTheropods

This is what happened to ''Syntarsus'', a close relative of ''Coelophysis'' that lived in Early Jurassic Southern Africa, with some questionable remains also found in North America (the latter show a small double-crest similarly to ''Dilophosaurus''). In the 2000s, an entomologist discovered the name “''Syntarsus''” was preoccupied by a living insect, and changed it to ''Megapnosaurus'' (“big dead lizard”) under the mistaken impression that the dinosaur's original discoverer had died. Many dino-fans complain about this change, to the point “Megapnosaurus” has become one of the least-beloved dinosaurian names… ScienceMarchesOn however, and if ''Megapnosaurus'' is just a late surviving, Early Jurassic species of ''Coelophysis'', this name will become invalid as well.

Big dead lizard: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megapnosaurus Megapnosaurus]]'' (once called "Syntarsus")

This is what happened to ''Syntarsus'', a close relative of ''Coelophysis'' that lived in Early Jurassic Southern Africa, with some questionable remains also found in North America (the latter show a small double-crest similarly to ''Dilophosaurus''). In the 2000s, an entomologist discovered the name “Syntarsus” was preoccupied by a living insect, and changed it to ''Megapnosaurus'' (“big dead lizard”) under the mistaken impression that the dinosaur's original discoverer had died. Many dino-fans complain about this change, to the point “Megapnosaurus” has become one of the least-beloved dinosaurian names… ScienceMarchesOn however, and if ''Megapnosaurus'' is just a late surviving, Early Jurassic species of ''Coelophysis'', this name will become invalid as well.

This is what happened to ''Syntarsus'', a close relative of ''Coelophysis'' that lived in Early Jurassic Southern Africa, with some questionable remains also found in North America (the latter show a small double-crest similarly to ''Dilophosaurus''). In the 2000s, an entomologist discovered the name “Syntarsus” was preoccupied by a modern-day insect, and changed it to ''Megapnosaurus'' (“big dead lizard”). Many dino-fans complain about this change, to the point “Megapnosaurus” has become one of the least-beloved dinosaurian names… ScienceMarchesOn however, and if ''Megapnosaurus'' is just a late surviving, Early Jurassic species of ''Coelophysis'', this name will become invalid as well.

However, in the last years ''Guanlong'' has lost the record in favor of ''Proceratosaurus''. This was a Middle Jurassic European theropod found at the beginning of the XX century; as its only-known remain is a partial skull with a horn on the nose similar to the younger ''Ceratosaurus'' ( hence its name, "before Ceratosaurus"), it was classified as a basal tyrannosaur only some years ago.

After ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'', ''[[StockDinosaurs Coelophysis]]'', and ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]'', the couple ''Coelurus'' - ''Ornitholestes'' makes the forth most portrayed Jurassic/Triassic small theropods, despite their scanty remains. This because both lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'', and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus are often depicted interacting with them.

Scientific names are a route full of hurdles. It’s almost unbelievable how many living or extinct animals have been described so far (more than 10.000 genuses, 90% insects!). Thus, it's not surprising that sometimes zoologists make the mistake to call their new-found animals with names already-in-use.

This it what happened to ''Syntarsus'', a close relative of ''Coelophysis'' that lived in Early Jurassic Southern Africa, with some remains also found in North America (the latter show a small double-crest similarly to ''Dilophosaurus''). In the 2000s, an entomologist discovered the name “Syntarsus” was preoccupied by a modern-day insect, and changed it to ''Megapnosaurus'' (“big dead lizard”). Many dino-fans complain about this change, to the point “Megapnosaurus” has become one of the least-beloved dinosaurian names… ScienceMarchesOn however, and if ''Megapnosaurus'' is just a late surviving, Early Jurassic species of ''Coelophysis'', this name will become invalid as well.

Whatever the name you prefer, this dinosaur has the distinction to be the first non-avian dinosaur ever depicted with feathers (in 1975), in a time when this hypothesis was only speculation. Ironically, we don't know if this animal was really feathered; the closer to birds ''Ceratosaurus'' and ''Carnotaurus'' show extensive areas of scales and/or bony scutes in the back, so it may be unlikely. Other examples of much smaller coelophysoids were the Early Jurassic ''Segisaurus'' and ''Podokesaurus'', and the Late Triassic ''Camposaurus'' (not confound it with ''Camptosaurus''), all from North America -- at present, the latter is the oldest named dinosaur from that continent.

Whatever the name you prefer, this dinosaur has the distinction to be the first non-avian dinosaur ever depicted with feathers (in 1975), in a time when this hypothesis was only speculation. Ironically, we don't know if this animal was really feathered; the closer to birds ''Ceratosaurus'' and ''Carnotaurus'' show extensive areas of scales and/or bony scutes in the back, so it may be unlikely. Other examples of much smaller coelophysoids were ''Segisaurus'', ''Podokesaurus'', and ''Camposaurus'', all from North America -- at present, the latter is the oldest named dinosaur from that continent.

Whatever the name you prefer, this dinosaur has the distinction to be the first non-avian dinosaur ever depicted with feathers (in 1975), in a time when this hypothesis was only speculation. Ironically, we don't know if this animal was really feathered; the closer to birds ''Ceratosaurus'' and ''Carnotaurus'' show extensive areas of scales and/or bony scutes in the back, so it may be unlikely. Other examples of much smaller coelophysoids were ''Segisaurus'', ''Podokesaurus'' & ''Camposaurus'', all from North America (at present, the latter is the oldest named dinosaur from that continent).

About ''Coelurus'', a 2007 analysis seems to indicate it may have been a ''basal tyrannosauroid'', along with a recently discovered larger-sized relative from the same habitat, ''Tanycolagreus''. These two seem to form the group Coeluridae, which was once treated as a "wastebasket" family including dozens of undetermined small theropods. Several other non-maniraptoran coelurosaurs have been recently described; some of them (found in South America) managed to reach the Late Cretaceous Period.

The windpipe, intestines, liver, and muscles, all these were preserved in the fine limestone which has preserved the usual bones as well. Since the relative positions of dinosaurian organs could only be guessed before ''Scipionyx'', this has been celebrated as one of the most important discoveries within the whole paleontological science. As for now, no other prehistoric dinosaur has left such complete remains of internal organs. Like many other compsognathid specimens, it also preserves evidence of its last meals: in this case several smaller reptiles and some fish.

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* After ''[[StockDinosaurs Coelophysis]] '' and ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]'', the couple ''Coelurus'' - ''Ornitholestes'' makes the third most portrayed Jurassic/Triassic theropods, despite their scanty remains. This because both lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'', and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus are often depicted interacting with them. Both were slender animals the same length/size of the RealLife ''Velociraptor'', and with a rather incospicuous appearance. Within their habitat, ''Coelurus'' and ''Ornitholestes'' arguably played the role of the “small cunning predators” (while ''Allosaurus'' and ''Torvosaurus'' were the top predators and ''Ceratosaurus'' was between the two extremes). Although there are no evidences, their preys were possibly lizards, mammals, frogs and insects, and sometimes, also ate the eggs and hatchlings of bigger dinosaurs. In the “Time of the Titans” episode of ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' we can see some ''Ornitholestes'' behaving in such a way. In many paleo-artistic works ''Ornitholestes'' has been shown behaving like a jackal, tearing chunks of flesh from the kills of ''Allosaurus'' or ''Ceratosaurus'' and fleeing safely from these larger predators. Whatever the case, it is usually shown as a solitary hunter – justified, as the only known ''Ornitholestes'' skeleton [[CaptainObvious was found alone]]. ''Coelurus'' was often confused with ''Ornitholestes'' in the past, and arguably behaved in a similar way above. First found during the Bone Wars, ''Coelurus'' was the first small theropod discovered in USA, and has had a great historical relevance. As soon as the XIX century, ''Coelurus'' gave its name to the coelurosaurs, aka all small/slender theropods - the well-known modern meaning was created only few decades ago. ''Ornitholestes'' was found a bit later, at the beginning of the 20th century. Its name, “bird thief”, was given because it was though a specialist predator well-adapted to grasp “first bird” ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'' with its prehensile hands. Such a thing would be not technically impossible, being the two animal contemporary as well… only, the “proto-bird” [[MisplacedWildlife lived in Europe]]. In many modern portraits, ''Ornitholestes'' used to be shown with a horn-like crest on its nose, seen even in WalkingWithDinosaurs; however, we know now that it [[ScienceMarchesOn didn’t have this feature]]. ''Walking With'' also added some speculative erectile quills on its neck: though not demonstrated, these might be possible, especially as ''Ornitholestes'' has recently been classified as a bird-like ''maniraptoran'' in some analyses (albeit still of uncertain placement within the clade). The link with maniraptors is furtherly renforced by one usually-skipped detail: ''Ornitholestes'' had a retractable toe similar to that of deinonychosaurs and early birds. About ''Coelurus'', a 2007 analysis seems to indicate it may have been a ''basal tyrannosauroid'', along with a recently discovered larger-sized relative from the same habitat, ''Tanycolagreus''. These two seem to form the group Coeluridae (which was once [[http://RajaHarimau98.deviantart.com/art/Miscellaneous-Theropods-274241415?q=gallery%3Arajaharimau98%2F30337398&qo=52 much larger]]). Other early coelurosaurs include ''Nedcolbertia'', a long-legged contemporary of ''Utahraptor'', ''Lourinhanosaurus'', known from a headless skeleton with stomach stones as well as embryos (some consider it a metriacanthosaurid allosauroid instead),''Sinocalliopteryx'', a giant compsognathid that ate deinonychosaurs, ''Zuolong'', named for the same Chinese general as General Tso's chicken, and a pair of Late Cretaceous coelurosaurs from Argentina: ''Aniksosaurus'' and ''Bicentenaria'' (the latter was announced in 2012). These two represent the last of the early coelurosaurs.

* Few other dinosaurs have had such an intricated ScienceMarchesOn story than ''Elaphrosaurus''. This medium-sized, slender-framed theropod (meaning “light lizard”) is known from one skeleton found in the famous Jurassic Tendaguru site in which ''Giraffatitan'' (the universally-known “Brachiosaurus”). The problem is, its skull is not preserved, and we don’t know if it was toothed or toothless. In old paintings, it was depicted ''Coelophysis''-like and toothed. Then, scientists proposed ''Elaphrosaurus'' was the ancestor of the ornithomimosaurs, and depicted it toothless. In the nineties, when theropod classification was strongly improved, ''Elaphrosaurus'' was recognized as a much more primitive animal related with ''Ceratosaurus'', and still is today: this caused its mouth to return toothed. However, the very recent discovery of ''Limusaurus'', a close relative whose skull is quite reminescent of an ornithomimid's, has shuffled the cards again: now it’s possible ''Elaphrosaurus'' [[HilariousInHindsight really looked like an ostrich-mimic dinosaur]], in spite of not being closely related at all. ScienceMarchesOn has also involved another small basal theropod, ''Noasaurus'' from Late Cretaceous South America. Initially, ''Noasaurus'' was thought similar to dromaeosaurids and depicted with sickle-claws on its feet, making it the “southern dromeosaur”. However, more careful researches showed ''Noasaurus'' was far more archaic than a “raptor”: even though hard to believe, it was closely related with its neighbour ''Carnotaurus''. While its alleged [[HookHand Hook Foot]] has revealed a HookHand, like a miniaturized ''Megaraptor''. One close ''Noasaurus'' relative, ''Masiakasaurus'' from Madagascar, has revealed its unique protruding teeth, whose purpose remains uncertain - some think it used them to catch fish.

Tyrannosaurs went a [[IncrediblyLamePun long]] way: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanlong Guanlong]]''

* Well, it’s true. The undisputable charm of ''[[TyrannosaurusRex T. rex]]'' is also due to the [[IncrediblyLamePun long]] travel it made to become the Ultimate-King. Tyrannosaurs were already around in the Jurassic, but were still small, uncospicuous animals similar to an ''Ornitholestes'' or an ''Elaphrosaurus'' in shape. But this is an extremely recent knowledge, confirmed as recently as in 2006. The merit belongs to a very undinosaur-sounding dinosaur: ''[[RunningGag Guanlong]]''. Today, ''Guanlong'' may be the most famed dinosaur with “long” (in Chinese means [[DinosaursAreDragons dragon]]). The trend to call Chinese dinosaurs with this suffix has started only in the early 2000s; since then “dino-long”s have become more and more common, with at least one new-entry for every year. Easily recognizable thanks to its bizarre helmet-like crest, the 10-ft-[[OverlyLongGag long]] Guanlong lived in Late Jurassic; despite its vaguely ''Coelophysis''-like look, ''Guanlong'' was the most ancient tyrannosaur known in 2006. In the last years has lost the record in favor of ''Proceratosaurus'' (a Middle Jurassic European theropod known for a century from a partial skull with a horn on the nose; it has been considered a ''Megalosaurus'' species, a ceratosaur and an allosauroid, but further study places it with the tyrannosauroids); however, the sensationalism which surrounded the fact “[[TyrannosaurusRex The First Tyrannosaur]]!” soon gave it a great attention in media. ''Guanlong'' appeared as the protagonist of one documentary appositely dedicated to it (a very rare honor for such a recently-discovered dinosaur); and was also portrayed in the third movie within the ''IceAge'' series in place of the stock dromaeosaurids. Could it become a [[StockDinosaurs stock dinosaur]] in the next future?


A dinosaur with plenty of guts: ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scipionyx Scipionyx]]''

* When talking about dinosaur fossils, our mind immediately thinks “bones”. Sometimes, also skin prints, footprints, and petrified eggs. And then, the rare “mummies” with hardened muscles like the famous hadrosaurian ones. But things such as hearts, guts, livers, lungs, kidneys, are not usually heard about; this because the preservation of soft tissues and internal organs in vertebrates in an extremely rare event. So, the Early Cretaceous ''Scipionyx'' from Italy made sensation when was discovered in 1995, and with reason. This tiny theropod (still a juvenile when it died), now known to be a compsognathid, was the ''very first'' dinosaur ever found with fossilized internal organs. The windpipe, intestines, liver, and muscles, all these were preserved in the fine limestone which has preserved the usual bones as well. Since the relative positions of dinosaurian organs could only be guessed before ''Scipionyx'', this has been celebrated as one of the most important discoveries within the whole paleontological science. As for now, no other prehistoric dinosaur has left such complete remains of internal organs. Like many other compsognathid specimens, it also preserves evidence of its last meals: in this case several smaller reptiles and some fish.

* Scientific names are a route full of hurdles. It’s almost unbelievable how many animals (living or extinct) have been described so far. Thus, it's not surprising that sometimes zoologists make the mistake to call their new-found animals with names already-in-use. This it what happened to ''Syntarsus'', a close relative of ''Coelophysis'' that lived in Early Jurassic Southern Africa, with some remains also found in North America. In the 2000s, an entomologist discovered the name “Syntarsus” was preoccupied by a modern-day insect, and changed it to ''Megapnosaurus'' (“big dead lizard”). Many dino-fans complain about this change, to the point “Megapnosaurus” has become one of the least-beloved dinosaurian names… ScienceMarchesOn however, and if ''Megapnosaurus'' is just a late surviving, Early Jurassic species of ''Coelophysis'', this name will become invalid as well. Whatever the name you prefer, this dinosaur has the distinction to be the first non-avian dinosaur ever depicted with feathers (in 1975), in a time when this hypothesis was only speculation. Ironically, we don't know if this animal was really feathered; the closer to birds ''Ceratosaurus'' and ''Carnotaurus'' show extensive areas of scales and/or bony scutes in the back, so it may be unlikely. Other examples of much smaller coelophysoids were ''Segisaurus'', ''Podokesaurus'' & ''Camposaurus'', all from North America (at present, the latter is the oldest named dinosaur from that continent).

* ''Procompsognathus'' lived in the Triassic Period in Europe together with ''Plateosaurus''. It shared with ''Compsognathus'' the same overall shape, the same size (about 4 ft long), the same country (Germany) and a very similar name (“before ''Compsognathus''”). Despite all this, ''Procompsognathus'' was not related to its Late Jurassic namesake, nor was it its direct ancestor at all: it is a small coelophysoid, but a skull once assigned to it likely came from a non-dinosaurian archosaur. In 1990, ''Procompsognathus'' has gained notoriety thanks to its apparition in the first ''Literature/JurassicPark'' novel, depicted as a scavenger which paralyzed its victims with a [[RuleOfCool totally speculative venomous bite]]. This is indeed the original "Compy" in the ''Jurassic Park'' world. Before, ''Procompsognathus'' was an obscure animal, as is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the novel itself – with Alan Grant thinking the drawing made by the child who saw the “compy” alive was not fake, just because “even dino-lovers don’t know ''Procompsognathus''”. However, seven years later, Spielberg decided to play straight StockDinosaurs and chose the more familiar ''Compsognathus'' in the same role in ''TheLostWorldJurassicPark''. Considering that the “procompy” is known from much scantier remains than the usual 'Compy', this might be justified. Another alleged theropod from Triassic Europe is ''Saltopus''. A rare Scottish speciality (almost all British dinosaurs have been found in southern England), being merely 2 ft long, ''Saltopus'' was sometimes referred as “the smallest dinosaur” in old books (when ''Compsognathus'' wasn't already), but now it seems to be only a non-dinosaurian dinosauromorph. Not to be confounded with ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeNonDinosaurianReptiles Saltoposuchus]]'', a tiny crocodilomorph from Triassic Europe also common in old books because was once thought the common ancestor of dinos, birds and crocs.

* Yes, ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'' was not alone. There was also "Protoavis". Discovered in 1990, this very incomplete Triassic fossil from Texas has originated much discussion among paleontologists: Its describer thought that it, and not ''Archaeopteryx'', was the ''true'' "first bird", basing this upon some skeletal features. He chose to name its “sensational” find Protoavis, which just means [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin “first bird”]]. Not surprisingly, our animal has often been mentioned in books and documentaries in those years, even portrayed with small imaginary “wings” on its forearms. However, its legacy with birds is now heavily contested if not totally discredited. This alleged “protobird” is more probably a primitive theropod, a basal saurischian, or a non-dino archosaur, and it was likely described from a mixup of dinosaurian and non-dinosaurian bones, thus not even a real animal. But others still think "Protoavis" really contains the bones of an early bird-relative, perhaps the most ancient coelurosaur known. (Nonetheless, it almost certainly wasn't an actual bird.) There is also a HilariousInHindsight detail about the “first-bird” argument. Many decades before the discovery of "Protoavis", in a time when birds were still thought to have directly descended from a bipedal archosaur (the aforementioned ''Saltoposuchus''), the similar name “Proavis” (“before birds”) was invented for an imaginative missing-link between ''Saltoposuchus'' and ''Archaeopteryx''. This critter was depicted as a tree-climbing animal with small wings and capable to glide from a tree to another, but still not capable to fly actively. Then, in year 2000, somewhere in the Chinese province of Liaoning…

* After ''[[StockDinosaurs Coelophysis]] '' and ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]'', the couple ''Coelurus'' - ''Ornitholestes'' makes the third most portrayed Jurassic/Triassic theropods, despite their scanty remains. This because both lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'', and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus are often depicted interacting with them. Both were slender animals the same length/size of the RealLife ''Velociraptor'', and with a rather incospicuous appearance. Within their habitat, ''Coelurus'' and ''Ornitholestes'' arguably played the role of the “small cunning predators” (while ''Allosaurus'' and ''Torvosaurus'' were the top predators and ''Ceratosaurus'' was between the two extremes). Although there are no evidences, their preys were possibly lizards, mammals, frogs and insects, and sometimes, also ate the eggs and hatchlings of bigger dinosaurs. In the “Time of the Titans” episode of ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' we can see some ''Ornitholestes'' behaving in such a way. In many paleo-artistic works ''Ornitholestes'' has been shown behaving like a jackal, tearing chunks of flesh from the kills of ''Allosaurus'' or ''Ceratosaurus'' and fleeing safely from these larger predators. Whatever the case, it is usually shown as a solitary hunter – justified, as the only known ''Ornitholestes'' skeleton [[CaptainObvious was found alone]]. ''Coelurus'' was often confused with ''Ornitholestes'' in the past, and arguably behaved in a similar way above. First found during the Bone Wars, ''Coelurus'' was the first small theropod discovered in USA, and has had a great historical relevance. As soon as the XIX century, ''Coelurus'' gave its name to the coelurosaurs, aka all small/slender theropods - the well-known modern meaning was created only few decades ago. ''Ornitholestes'' was found a bit later, at the beginning of the 20th century. Its name, “bird thief”, was given because it was though a specialist predator well-adapted to grasp “first bird” ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'' with its prehensile hands. Such a thing would be not technically impossible, being the two animal contemporary as well… only, the “proto-bird” [[MisplacedWildlife lived in Europe]]. In many modern portraits, ''Ornitholestes'' used to be shown with a horn-like crest on its nose, seen even in WalkingWithDinosaurs; however, we know now that it [[ScienceMarchesOn didn’t have this feature]]. ''Walking With'' also added some speculative erectile quills on its neck: though not demonstrated, these might be possible, especially as ''Ornitholestes'' has recently been classified as a bird-like ''maniraptoran'' in some analyses (albeit still of uncertain placement within the clade). The link with maniraptors is furtherly renforced by one usually-skipped detail: ''Ornitholestes'' had a retractable toe similar to that of deinonychosaurs and early birds. About ''Coelurus'', a 2007 analysis seems to indicate it may have been a ''basal tyrannosauroid'', along with a recently discovered larger-sized relative from the same habitat, ''Tanycolagreus''. These two seem to form the group Coeluridae (which was once [[http://RajaHarimau98.deviantart.com/art/Miscellaneous-Theropods-274241415?q=gallery%3Arajaharimau98%2F30337398&qo=52 much larger]]). Other early coelurosaurs include ''Nedcolbertia'', a long-legged contemporary of ''Utahraptor'', ''Lourinhanosaurus'', known from a headless skeleton with stomach stones as well as embryos (some consider it a metriacanthosaurid allosauroid instead),''Sinocalliopteryx'', a giant compsognathid that ate deinonychosaurs,  ''Zuolong'', named for the same Chinese general as General Tso's chicken, and a pair of Late Cretaceous coelurosaurs from Argentina: ''Aniksosaurus'' and ''Bicentenaria'' (the latter was announced in 2012). These two represent the last of the early coelurosaurs.

* After ''[[StockDinosaurs Coelophysis]] '' and ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]'', the couple ''Coelurus'' - ''Ornitholestes'' makes the third most portrayed Jurassic/Triassic theropods, despite their scanty remains. This because both lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'', and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus are often depicted interacting with them. Both were slender animals the same length/size of the RealLife ''Velociraptor'', and with a rather incospicuous appearance. Within their habitat, ''Coelurus'' and ''Ornitholestes'' arguably played the role of the “small cunning predators” (while ''Allosaurus'' and ''Torvosaurus'' were the top predators and ''Ceratosaurus'' was between the two extremes). Although there are no evidences, their preys were possibly lizards, mammals, frogs and insects, and sometimes, also ate the eggs and hatchlings of bigger dinosaurs. In the “Time of the Titans” episode of ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' we can see some ''Ornitholestes'' behaving in such a way. In many paleo-artistic works ''Ornitholestes'' has been shown behaving like a jackal, tearing chunks of flesh from the kills of ''Allosaurus'' or ''Ceratosaurus'' and fleeing safely from these larger predators. Whatever the case, it is usually shown as a solitary hunter – justified, as the only known ''Ornitholestes'' skeleton [[CaptainObvious was found alone]]. ''Coelurus'' was often confused with ''Ornitholestes'' in the past, and arguably behaved in a similar way above. First found during the Bone Wars, ''Coelurus'' was the first small theropod discovered in USA, and has had a great historical relevance. As soon as the XIX century, ''Coelurus'' gave its name to the coelurosaurs, aka all small/slender theropods - the well-known modern meaning was created only few decades ago. ''Ornitholestes'' was found a bit later, at the beginning of the 20th century. Its name, “bird thief”, was given because it was though a specialist predator well-adapted to grasp “first bird” ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'' with its prehensile hands. Such a thing would be not technically impossible, being the two animal contemporary as well… only, the “proto-bird” [[MisplacedWildlife lived in Europe]]. In many modern portraits, ''Ornitholestes'' used to be shown with a horn-like crest on its nose, seen even in WalkingWithDinosaurs; however, we know now that it [[ScienceMarchesOn didn’t have this feature]]. ''Walking With'' also added some speculative erectile quills on its neck: though not demonstrated, these might be possible, especially as ''Ornitholestes'' has recently been classified as a bird-like ''maniraptoran'' in some analyses (albeit still of uncertain placement within the clade). The link with maniraptors is furtherly renforced by one usually-skipped detail: ''Ornitholestes'' had a retractable toe similar to that of deinonychosaurs and early birds. About ''Coelurus'', a 2007 analysis seems to indicate it may have been a ''basal tyrannosauroid'', along with a recently discovered larger-sized relative from the same habitat, ''Tanycolagreus''. These two seem to form the group Coeluridae (which was once [[http://RajaHarimau98.deviantart.com/art/Miscellaneous-Theropods-274241415?q=gallery%3Arajaharimau98%2F30337398&qo=52 much larger]]). Other early coelurosaurs include ''Nedcolbertia'', a long-legged contemporary of ''Utahraptor'', ''Lourinhanosaurus'', known from a headless skeleton with stomach stones as well as embryos (some consider it a metriacanthosaurid allosauroid instead),''Sinocalliopteryx'', a giant compsognathid that ate deinonychosaurs,  ''Zuolong'', named for the same emperor as General Tso's chicken, and a pair of Late Cretaceous coelurosaurs from Argentina: ''Aniksosaurus'' and ''Bicentenaria'' (the latter was announced in 2012). These two represent the last of the early coelurosaurs.

* After ''[[StockDinosaurs Coelophysis]] '' and ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]'', the couple ''Coelurus'' - ''Ornitholestes'' makes the third most portrayed Jurassic/Triassic theropods, despite their scanty remains. This because both lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'', and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus are often depicted interacting with them. Both were slender animals the same length/size of the RealLife ''Velociraptor'', and with a rather incospicuous appearance. Within their habitat, ''Coelurus'' and ''Ornitholestes'' arguably played the role of the “small cunning predators” (while ''Allosaurus'' and ''Torvosaurus'' were the top predators and ''Ceratosaurus'' was between the two extremes). Although there are no evidences, their preys were possibly lizards, mammals, frogs and insects, and sometimes, also ate the eggs and hatchlings of bigger dinosaurs. In the “Time of the Titans” episode of ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' we can see some ''Ornitholestes'' behaving in such a way. In many paleo-artistic works ''Ornitholestes'' has been shown behaving like a jackal, tearing chunks of flesh from the kills of ''Allosaurus'' or ''Ceratosaurus'' and fleeing safely from these larger predators. Whatever the case, it is usually shown as a solitary hunter – justified, as the only known ''Ornitholestes'' skeleton [[CaptainObvious was found alone]]. ''Coelurus'' was often confused with ''Ornitholestes'' in the past, and arguably behaved in a similar way above. First found during the Bone Wars, ''Coelurus'' was the first small theropod discovered in USA, and has had a great historical relevance. As soon as the XIX century, ''Coelurus'' gave its name to the coelurosaurs, aka all small/slender theropods - the well-known modern meaning was created only few decades ago. ''Ornitholestes'' was found a bit later, at the beginning of the 20th century. Its name, “bird thief”, was given because it was though a specialist predator well-adapted to grasp “first bird” ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'' with its prehensile hands. Such a thing would be not technically impossible, being the two animal contemporary as well… only, the “proto-bird” [[MisplacedWildlife lived in Europe]]. In many modern portraits, ''Ornitholestes'' used to be shown with a horn-like crest on its nose, seen even in WalkingWithDinosaurs; however, we know now that it [[ScienceMarchesOn didn’t have this feature]]. ''Walking With'' also added some speculative erectile quills on its neck: though not demonstrated, these might be possible, especially as ''Ornitholestes'' has recently been classified as a bird-like ''maniraptoran'' in some analyses (albeit still of uncertain placement within the clade). The link with maniraptors is furtherly renforced by one usually-skipped detail: ''Ornitholestes'' had a retractable toe similar to that of deinonychosaurs and early birds. About ''Coelurus'', a 2007 analysis seems to indicate it may have been a ''basal tyrannosauroid'', along with a recently discovered larger-sized relative from the same habitat, ''Tanycolagreus''. These two seem to form the group Coeluridae (which was once [[http://RajaHarimau98.deviantart.com/art/Miscellaneous-Theropods-274241415?q=gallery%3Arajaharimau98%2F30337398&qo=52 much larger]]). Other early coelurosaurs include ''Nedcolbertia'', a long-legged contemporary of ''Utahraptor'', ''Lourinhanosaurus'', known from a headless skeleton with stomach stones as well as embryos (some consider it a metriacanthosaurid allosauroid instead), ''Zuolong'', named for the same emperor as General Tso's chicken, and a pair of Late Cretaceous coelurosaurs from Argentina: ''Aniksosaurus'' and ''Bicentenaria'' (the latter was announced in 2012). These two represent the last of the early coelurosaurs.

* Scientific names are a route full of hurdles. It’s almost unbelievable how many animals (living or extinct) have been described so far. Thus, it's not surprising that sometimes zoologists make the mistake to call their new-found animals with names already-in-use. This it what happened to ''Syntarsus'', a close relative of ''Coelophysis'' that lived in Early Jurassic Southern Africa, with some remains also found in North America. In the 2000s, an entomologist discovered the name “Syntarsus” was preoccupied by a modern-day insect, and changed it to ''Megapnosaurus'' (“big dead lizard”). Many dino-fans complain about this change, to the point “Megapnosaurus” has become one of the least-beloved dinosaurian names… ScienceMarchesOn however, and if ''Megapnosaurus'' is just a late surviving, Early Jurassic species of ''Coelophysis'', this name will become invalid as well. Whatever the name you prefer, this dinosaur has the distinction to be the first non-avian dinosaur ever depicted with feathers (in 1975), in a time when this hypothesis was only speculation. Ironically, we don't know if this animal was really feathered; the closer to birds ''Ceratosaurus'' and ''Carnotaurus'' show extensive areas of scales and/or bony scutes in the back, so it may be unlikely. Other examples of much smaller coelophysoids were ''Segisaurus'' and ''Podokesaurus'', both from North America.

* After ''[[StockDinosaurs Coelophysis]] '' and ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]'', the couple ''Coelurus'' - ''Ornitholestes'' makes the third most portrayed Jurassic/Triassic theropods, despite their scanty remains. This because both lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'', and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus are often depicted interacting with them. Both were slender animals the same length/size of the RealLife ''Velociraptor'', and with a rather incospicuous appearance. Within their habitat, ''Coelurus'' and ''Ornitholestes'' arguably played the role of the “small cunning predators” (while ''Allosaurus'' and ''Ceratosaurus'' were the top-predators). Although there are no evidences, their preys were possibly lizards, mammals, frogs and insects, and sometimes, also ate the eggs and hatchlings of bigger dinosaurs. In the “Time of the Titans” episode of ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' we can see some ''Ornitholestes'' behaving in such a way. In many paleo-artistic works ''Ornitholestes'' has been shown behaving like a jackal, tearing chunks of flesh from the kills of ''Allosaurus'' or ''Ceratosaurus'' and fleeing safely from these larger predators. Whatever the case, it is usually shown as a solitary hunter – justified, as the only known ''Ornitholestes'' skeleton [[CaptainObvious was found alone]]. ''Coelurus'' was often confused with ''Ornitholestes'' in the past, and arguably behaved in a similar way above. First found during the Bone Wars, ''Coelurus'' was the first small theropod discovered in USA, and has had a great historical relevance. As soon as the XIX century, ''Coelurus'' gave its name to the coelurosaurs, aka all small/slender theropods - the well-known modern meaning was created only few decades ago. ''Ornitholestes'' was found a bit later, at the beginning of the 20th century. Its name, “bird thief”, was given because it was though a specialist predator well-adapted to grasp “first bird” ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'' with its prehensile hands. Such a thing would be not technically impossible, being the two animal contemporary as well… only, the “proto-bird” [[MisplacedWildlife lived in Europe]]. In many modern portraits, ''Ornitholestes'' used to be shown with a horn-like crest on its nose, seen even in WalkingWithDinosaurs; however, we know now that it [[ScienceMarchesOn didn’t have this feature]]. ''Walking With'' also added some speculative erectile quills on its neck: though not demonstrated, these might be possible, especially as ''Ornitholestes'' has recently been classified as a bird-like ''maniraptoran'' in some analyses (albeit still of uncertain placement within the clade). The link with maniraptors is furtherly renforced by one usually-skipped detail: ''Ornitholestes'' had a retractable toe similar to that of deinonychosaurs and early birds. About ''Coelurus'', a 2007 analysis seems to indicate it may have been a ''basal tyrannosauroid'', along with a recently discovered larger-sized relative from the same habitat, ''Tanycolagreus''. These two seem to form the group Coeluridae (which was once [[http://RajaHarimau98.deviantart.com/art/Miscellaneous-Theropods-274241415?q=gallery%3Arajaharimau98%2F30337398&qo=52 much larger]]). Other early coelurosaurs include ''Nedcolbertia'', a long-legged contemporary of ''Utahraptor'', ''Lourinhanosaurus'', known from a headless skeleton with stomach stones as well as embryos (some consider it a metriacanthosaurid allosauroid instead), ''Zuolong'', named for the same emperor as General Tso's chicken, and a pair of Late Cretaceous coelurosaurs from Argentina: ''Aniksosaurus'' and ''Bicentenaria'' (the latter was announced in 2012). These two represent the last of the early coelurosaurs.

* ''Procompsognathus'' lived in the Triassic Period in Europe together with ''Plateosaurus''. It shared with ''Compsognathus'' the same overall shape, the same size (about 4 ft long), the same country (Germany) and a very similar name (“before ''Compsognathus''”). Despite all this, ''Procompsognathus'' was not related to its Late Jurassic namesake, nor was it its direct ancestor at all: it is usually thought to be a small coelophysoid, but could also have been a non-dinosaurian archosaur. In 1990, ''Procompsognathus'' has gained notoriety thanks to its apparition in the first ''Literature/JurassicPark'' novel, depicted as a scavenger which paralyzed its victims with a [[RuleOfCool totally speculative venomous bite]]. This is indeed the original "Compy" in the ''Jurassic Park'' world. Before, ''Procompsognathus'' was an obscure animal, as is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the novel itself – with Alan Grant thinking the drawing made by the child who saw the “compy” alive was not fake, just because “even dino-lovers don’t know ''Procompsognathus''”. However, seven years later, Spielberg decided to play straight StockDinosaurs and chose the more familiar ''Compsognathus'' in the same role in ''TheLostWorldJurassicPark''. Considering that the “procompy” is known from much scantier remains than the usual 'Compy', this might be justified. Another alleged theropod from Triassic Europe is ''Saltopus''. A rare Scottish speciality (almost all British dinosaurs have been found in southern England), being merely 2 ft long, ''Saltopus'' was sometimes referred as “the smallest dinosaur” in old books (when ''Compsognathus'' wasn't already), but now it seems to be only a non-dinosaurian dinosauromorph. Not to be confounded with ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeNonDinosaurianReptiles Saltoposuchus]]'', a tiny crocodilomorph from Triassic Europe also common in old books because was once thought the common ancestor of dinos, birds and crocs.

* After ''[[StockDinosaurs Coelophysis]] '' and ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]'', the couple ''Coelurus'' - ''Ornitholestes'' makes the third most portrayed Jurassic/Triassic theropods, despite their scanty remains. This because both lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'', and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus are often depicted interacting with them. Both were slender animals the same length/size of the RealLife ''Velociraptor'', and with a rather incospicuous appearance. Within their habitat, ''Coelurus'' and ''Ornitholestes'' arguably played the role of the “small cunning predators” (while ''Allosaurus'' and ''Ceratosaurus'' were the top-predators). Although there are no evidences, their preys were possibly lizards, mammals, frogs and insects, and sometimes, also ate the eggs and hatchlings of bigger dinosaurs. In the “Time of the Titans” episode of ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' we can see some ''Ornitholestes'' behaving in such a way. In many paleo-artistic works ''Ornitholestes'' has been shown behaving like a jackal, tearing chunks of flesh from the kills of ''Allosaurus'' or ''Ceratosaurus'' and fleeing safely from these larger predators. Whatever the case, it is usually shown as a solitary hunter – justified, as the only known ''Ornitholestes'' skeleton [[CaptainObvious was found alone]]. ''Coelurus'' was often confused with ''Ornitholestes'' in the past, and arguably behaved in a similar way above. First found during the Bone Wars, ''Coelurus'' was the first small theropod discovered in USA, and has had a great historical relevance. As soon as the XIX century, ''Coelurus'' gave its name to the coelurosaurs, aka all small/slender theropods - the well-known modern meaning was created only few decades ago. ''Ornitholestes'' was found a bit later, at the beginning of the 20th century. Its name, “bird thief”, was given because it was though a specialist predator well-adapted to grasp “first bird” ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'' with its prehensile hands. Such a thing would be not technically impossible, being the two animal contemporary as well… only, the “proto-bird” [[MisplacedWildlife lived in Europe]]. In many modern portraits, ''Ornitholestes'' used to be shown with a horn-like crest on its nose, seen even in WalkingWithDinosaurs; however, we know now that it [[ScienceMarchesOn didn’t have this feature]]. ''Walking With'' also added some speculative erectile quills on its neck: though not demonstrated, these might be possible, especially as ''Ornitholestes'' has recently been classified as a bird-like ''maniraptoran'' in some analyses (albeit still of uncertain placement within the clade). The link with maniraptors is furtherly renforced by one usually-skipped detail: ''Ornitholestes'' had a retractable toe similar to that of deinonychosaurs and early birds. About ''Coelurus'', a 2007 analysis seems to indicate it may have been a ''basal tyrannosauroid'', along with a recently discovered larger-sized relative from the same habitat, ''Tanycolagreus''. These two seem to form the group Coeluridae (which was once [[http://RajaHarimau98.deviantart.com/art/Miscellaneous-Theropods-274241415?q=gallery%3Arajaharimau98%2F30337398&qo=52 much larger]]). Other early coelurosaurs include ''Nedcolbertia'', a long-legged contemporary of ''Utahraptor'', ''Zuolong'', named for the same emperor as General Tso's chicken, and a pair of Late Cretaceous coelurosaurs from Argentina: ''Aniksosaurus'' and ''Bicentenaria'' (the latter was announced in 2012). These two represent the last of the early coelurosaurs.

* After ''[[StockDinosaurs Coelophysis]] '' and ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]'', the couple ''Coelurus'' - ''Ornitholestes'' makes the third most portrayed Jurassic/Triassic theropods, despite their scanty remains. This because both lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'', and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus are often depicted interacting with them. Both were slender animals the same length/size of the RealLife ''Velociraptor'', and with a rather incospicuous appearance. Within their habitat, ''Coelurus'' and ''Ornitholestes'' arguably played the role of the “small cunning predators” (while ''Allosaurus'' and ''Ceratosaurus'' were the top-predators). Although there are no evidences, their preys were possibly lizards, mammals, frogs and insects, and sometimes, also ate the eggs and hatchlings of bigger dinosaurs. In the “Time of the Titans” episode of ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' we can see some ''Ornitholestes'' behaving in such a way. In many paleo-artistic works ''Ornitholestes'' has been shown behaving like a jackal, tearing chunks of flesh from the kills of ''Allosaurus'' or ''Ceratosaurus'' and fleeing safely from these larger predators. Whatever the case, it is usually shown as a solitary hunter – justified, as the only known ''Ornitholestes'' skeleton [[CaptainObvious was found alone]]. ''Coelurus'' was often confused with ''Ornitholestes'' in the past, and arguably behaved in a similar way above. First found during the Bone Wars, ''Coelurus'' was the first small theropod discovered in USA, and has had a great historical relevance. As soon as the XIX century, ''Coelurus'' gave its name to the coelurosaurs, aka all small/slender theropods - the well-known modern meaning was created only few decades ago. ''Ornitholestes'' was found a bit later, at the beginning of the 20th century. Its name, “bird thief”, was given because it was though a specialist predator well-adapted to grasp “first bird” ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'' with its prehensile hands. Such a thing would be not technically impossible, being the two animal contemporary as well… only, the “proto-bird” [[MisplacedWildlife lived in Europe]]. In many modern portraits, ''Ornitholestes'' used to be shown with a horn-like crest on its nose, seen even in WalkingWithDinosaurs; however, we know now that it [[ScienceMarchesOn didn’t have this feature]]. ''Walking With'' also added some speculative erectile quills on its neck: though not demonstrated, these might be possible, especially as ''Ornitholestes'' has recently been classified as a bird-like ''maniraptoran'' in some analyses (albeit still of uncertain placement within the clade). The link with maniraptors is furtherly renforced by one usually-skipped detail: ''Ornitholestes'' had a retractable toe similar to that of deinonychosaurs and early birds. About ''Coelurus'', a 2007 analysis seems to indicate it may have been a ''basal tyrannosauroid'', along with a recently discovered larger-sized relative from the same habitat, ''Tanycolagreus''. These two seem to form the group Coeluridae (which was once [[http://RajaHarimau98.deviantart.com/art/Miscellaneous-Theropods-274241415?q=gallery%3Arajaharimau98%2F30337398&qo=52 much larger]]. Other early coelurosaurs include ''Nedcolbertia'', a long-legged contemporary of ''Utahraptor'', ''Zuolong'', named for the same emperor as General Tso's chicken, and a pair of Late Cretaceous coelurosaurs from Argentina: ''Aniksosaurus'' and ''Bicentenaria'' (the latter was announced in 2012). These two represent the last of the early coelurosaurs.

* After ''[[StockDinosaurs Coelophysis]] '' and ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]'', the couple ''Coelurus'' - ''Ornitholestes'' makes the third most portrayed Jurassic/Triassic theropods, despite their scanty remains. This because both lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'', and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus are often depicted interacting with them. Both were slender animals the same length/size of the RealLife ''Velociraptor'', and with a rather incospicuous appearance. Within their habitat, ''Coelurus'' and ''Ornitholestes'' arguably played the role of the “small cunning predators” (while ''Allosaurus'' and ''Ceratosaurus'' were the top-predators). Although there are no evidences, their preys were possibly lizards, mammals, frogs and insects, and sometimes, also ate the eggs and hatchlings of bigger dinosaurs. In the “Time of the Titans” episode of ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' we can see some ''Ornitholestes'' behaving in such a way. In many paleo-artistic works ''Ornitholestes'' has been shown behaving like a jackal, tearing chunks of flesh from the kills of ''Allosaurus'' or ''Ceratosaurus'' and fleeing safely from these larger predators. Whatever the case, it is usually shown as a solitary hunter – justified, as the only known ''Ornitholestes'' skeleton [[CaptainObvious was found alone]]. ''Coelurus'' was often confused with ''Ornitholestes'' in the past, and arguably behaved in a similar way above. First found during the Bone Wars, ''Coelurus'' was the first small theropod discovered in USA, and has had a great historical relevance. As soon as the XIX century, ''Coelurus'' gave its name to the coelurosaurs, aka all small/slender theropods - the well-known modern meaning was created only few decades ago. ''Ornitholestes'' was found a bit later, at the beginning of the 20th century. Its name, “bird thief”, was given because it was though a specialist predator well-adapted to grasp “first bird” ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'' with its prehensile hands. Such a thing would be not technically impossible, being the two animal contemporary as well… only, the “proto-bird” [[MisplacedWildlife lived in Europe]]. In many modern portraits, ''Ornitholestes'' used to be shown with a horn-like crest on its nose, seen even in WalkingWithDinosaurs; however, we know now that it [[ScienceMarchesOn didn’t have this feature]]. ''Walking With'' also added some speculative erectile quills on its neck: though not demonstrated, these might be possible, especially as ''Ornitholestes'' has recently been classified as a bird-like ''maniraptoran'' in some analyses (albeit still of uncertain placement within the clade). The link with maniraptors is furtherly renforced by one usually-skipped detail: ''Ornitholestes'' had a retractable toe similar to that of deinonychosaurs and early birds. About ''Coelurus'', a 2007 analysis seems to indicate it may have been a ''basal tyrannosauroid'', along with a recently discovered larger-sized relative from the same habitat, ''Tanycolagreus''. Other early coelurosaurs include ''Nedcolbertia'', a long-legged contemporary of ''Utahraptor'', ''Zuolong'', named for the same emperor as General Tso's chicken, and a pair of Late Cretaceous coelurosaurs from Argentina: ''Aniksosaurus'' and ''Bicentenaria'' (the latter was announced in 2012). These two represent the last of the early coelurosaurs.

* After ''[[StockDinosaurs Coelophysis]] '' and ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]'', the couple ''Coelurus'' - ''Ornitholestes'' makes the third most portrayed Jurassic/Triassic theropods, despite their scanty remains. This because both lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'', and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus are often depicted interacting with them. Both were slender animals the same length/size of the RealLife ''Velociraptor'', and with a rather incospicuous appearance. Within their habitat, ''Coelurus'' and ''Ornitholestes'' arguably played the role of the “small cunning predators” (while ''Allosaurus'' and ''Ceratosaurus'' were the top-predators). Although there are no evidences, their preys were possibly lizards, mammals, frogs and insects, and sometimes, also ate the eggs and hatchlings of bigger dinosaurs. In the “Time of the Titans” episode of ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' we can see some ''Ornitholestes'' behaving in such a way. In many paleo-artistic works ''Ornitholestes'' has been shown behaving like a jackal, tearing chunks of flesh from the kills of ''Allosaurus'' or ''Ceratosaurus'' and fleeing safely from these larger predators. Whatever the case, it is usually shown as a solitary hunter – justified, as the only known ''Ornitholestes'' skeleton [[CaptainObvious was found alone]]. ''Coelurus'' was often confused with ''Ornitholestes'' in the past, and arguably behaved in a similar way above. First found during the Bone Wars, ''Coelurus'' was the first small theropod discovered in USA, and has had a great historical relevance. As soon as the XIX century, ''Coelurus'' gave its name to the coelurosaurs, aka all small/slender theropods - the well-known modern meaning was created only few decades ago. ''Ornitholestes'' was found a bit later, at the beginning of the 20th century. Its name, “bird thief”, was given because it was though a specialist predator well-adapted to grasp “first bird” ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'' with its prehensile hands. Such a thing would be not technically impossible, being the two animal contemporary as well… only, the “proto-bird” [[MisplacedWildlife lived in Europe]]. In many modern portraits, ''Ornitholestes'' used to be shown with a horn-like crest on its nose, seen even in WalkingWithDinosaurs; however, we know now that it [[ScienceMarchesOn didn’t have this feature]]. ''Walking With'' also added some speculative erectile quills on its neck: though not demonstrated, these might be possible, especially as ''Ornitholestes'' has recently been classified as a bird-like ''maniraptoran'' in some analyses (albeit still of uncertain placement within the clade). The link with maniraptors is furtherly renforced by one usually-skipped detail: ''Ornitholestes'' had a retractable toe similar to that of deinonychosaurs and early birds. About ''Coelurus'', a recent analysis seems to indicate it may have been a ''basal tyrannosauroid'', along with a recently discovered larger-sized relative from the same habitat, ''Tanycolagreus''.

* Well, it’s true. The undisputable charm of ''[[TyrannosaurusRex T. rex]]'' is also due to the [[IncrediblyLamePun long]] travel it made to become the Ultimate-King. Tyrannosaurs were already around in the Jurassic, but were still small, uncospicuous animals similar to an ''Ornitholestes'' or an ''Elaphrosaurus'' in shape. But this is an extremely recent knowledge, confirmed as recently as in 2006. The merit belongs to a very undinosaur-sounding dinosaur: ''[[RunningGag Guanlong]]''. Today, ''Guanlong'' may be the most famed dinosaur with “long” (in Chinese means [[DinosaursAreDragons dragon]]). The trend to call Chinese dinosaurs with this suffix has started only in the early 2000s; since then “dino-long”s have become more and more common, with at least one new-entry for every year. Easily recognizable thanks to its bizarre helmet-like crest, the 10-ft-[[OverlyLongGag long]] Guanlong lived in Late Jurassic; despite its vaguely ''Coelophysis''-like look, ''Guanlong'' was the most ancient tyrannosaur known in 2006. In the last years has lost the record in favor of ''Proceratosaurus'' (a Middle Jurassic European theropod known for a century from a partial skull with a horn on the nose); however, the sensationalism which surrounded the fact “the first [[TyrannosaurusRex The First Tyrannosaur]]!” soon gave it a great attention in media. ''Guanlong'' appeared as the protagonist of one documentary appositely dedicated to it (a very rare honor for such a recently-discovered dinosaur); and was also portrayed in the third movie within the ''IceAge'' series in place of the stock dromaeosaurids. Could it become a [[StockDinosaurs stock dinosaur]] in the next future?

* After ''[[StockDinosaurs Coelophysis]] '' and ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]'', the couple ''Coelurus'' - ''Ornitholestes'' makes the third most portrayed Jurassic/Triassic theropods, despite their scanty remains. This because both lived in Late Jurassic North America alongside many stock dinosaurs like ''Allosaurus'', ''Stegosaurus'', and ''Apatosaurus'', and thus are often depicted interacting with them. Both were slender animals the same length/size of the RealLife ''Velociraptor'', and with a rather incospicuous appearance. Within their habitat, ''Coelurus'' and ''Ornitholestes'' arguably played the role of the “small cunning predators” (while ''Allosaurus'' and ''Ceratosaurus'' were the top-predators). Although there are no evidences, their preys were possibly lizards, mammals, frogs and insects, and sometimes, also ate the eggs and hatchlings of bigger dinosaurs. In the “Time of the Titans” episode of ''WalkingWithDinosaurs'' we can see some ''Ornitholestes'' behaving in such a way. In many paleo-artistic works ''Ornitholestes'' has been shown behaving like a jackal, tearing chunks of flesh from the kills of ''Allosaurus'' or ''Ceratosaurus'' and fleeing safely from these larger predators. Whatever the case, it is usually shown as a solitary hunter – justified, as the only known ''Ornitholestes'' skeleton [[CaptainObvious was found alone]]. ''Coelurus'' was often confused with ''Ornitholestes'' in the past, and arguably behaved in a similar way above. First found during the Bone Wars, ''Coelurus'' was the first small theropod discovered in USA, and has had a great historical relevance. As soon as the XIX century, '''Coelur'''us was chosen as the prototype of the '''Coelur'''osaurs, aka all small/slender theropods - the well-known modern meaning was created only few decades ago. ''Ornitholestes'' was found a bit later, at the beginning of the 20th century. Its name, “bird thief”, was given because it was though a specialist predator well-adapted to grasp “first bird” ''[[StockDinosaurs Archaeopteryx]]'' with its prehensile hands. Such a thing would be not technically impossible, being the two animal contemporary as well… only, the “proto-bird” [[MisplacedWildlife lived in Europe]]. In many modern portraits, ''Ornitholestes'' used to be shown with a horn-like crest on its nose, seen even in WalkingWithDinosaurs; however, we know now that it [[ScienceMarchesOn didn’t have this feature]]. ''Walking With'' also added some speculative erectile quills on its neck: though not demonstrated, these might be possible, especially as ''Ornitholestes'' has recently been classified as a bird-like ''maniraptoran'' in some analyses (albeit still of uncertain placement within the clade). The link with maniraptors is furtherly renforced by one usually-skipped detail: ''Ornitholestes'' had a retractable toe similar to that of deinonychosaurs and early birds. About ''Coelurus'', a recent analysis seems to indicate it may have been a ''basal tyrannosauroid'', along with a recently discovered larger-sized relative from the same habitat, ''Tanycolagreus''.

* ''Procompsognathus'' lived in the Triassic Period in Europe together with ''Plateosaurus''. It shared with ''Compsognathus'' the same overall shape, the same size (about 4 ft long), the same country (Germany) and a very similar name (“before ''Compsognathus''”). Despite all this, ''Procompsognathus'' was not related to its Late Jurassic namesake, nor was it its direct ancestor at all: it is usually thought to be a small coelophysoid, but could also have been a non-dinosaurian archosaur. In 1990, ''Procompsognathus'' has gained notoriety thanks to its apparition in the first ''JurassicPark'' novel, depicted as a scavenger which paralyzed its victims with a [[RuleOfCool totally speculative venomous bite]]. This is indeed the original "Compy" in the ''Jurassic Park'' world. Before, ''Procompsognathus'' was an obscure animal, as is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the novel itself – with Alan Grant thinking the drawing made by the child who saw the “compy” alive was not fake, just because “even dino-lovers don’t know ''Procompsognathus''”. However, seven years later, Spielberg decided to play straight StockDinosaurs and chose the more familiar ''Compsognathus'' in the same role in JurassicPark 2. Considering that the “procompy” is known from much scantier remains than the usual 'Compy', this might be justified. Another alleged theropod from Triassic Europe is ''Saltopus''. A rare Scottish speciality (almost all British dinosaurs have been found in southern England), being merely 2 ft long, ''Saltopus'' was sometimes referred as “the smallest dinosaur” in old books (when ''Compsognathus'' wasn't already), but now it seems to be only a non-dinosaurian dinosauromorph. Not to be confounded with ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeNonDinosaurianReptiles Saltoposuchus]]'', a tiny crocodilomorph from Triassic Europe also common in old books because was once thought the common ancestor of dinos, birds and crocs.

* ''Procompsognathus'' lived in the Triassic Period in Europe together with ''Plateosaurus''. It shared with ''Compsognathus'' the same overall shape, the same size (about 4 ft long), the same country (Germany) and a very similar name (“before ''Compsognathus''”). Despite all this, ''Procompsognathus'' was not related to its Late Jurassic namesake, nor was it its direct ancestor at all: it is usually thought to be a small coelophysoid, but could also have been a non-dinosaurian archosaur. In 1990, ''Procompsognathus'' has gained notoriety thanks to its apparition in the first ''JurassicPark'' novel, depicted as a scavenger which paralyzed its victims with a [[RuleOfCool totally speculative venomous bite]]. This is indeed the original "Compy" in the ''Jurassic Park'' world. Before, ''Procompsognathus'' was an obscure animal, as is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the novel itself – with Alan Grant thinking the drawing made by the child who saw the “compy” alive was not fake, just because “even dino-lovers don’t know ''Procompsognathus''”. However, seven years later, Spielberg decided to play straight StockDinosaurs and chose the more familiar ''Compsognathus'' in the same role in JurassicPark 2. Considering that the “procompy” is known from much scantier remains than the usual 'Compy', this might be [[YourMileageMayVary partially justified]]. Another alleged theropod from Triassic Europe is ''Saltopus''. A rare Scottish speciality (almost all British dinosaurs have been found in southern England), being merely 2 ft long, ''Saltopus'' was sometimes referred as “the smallest dinosaur” in old books (when ''Compsognathus'' wasn't already), but now it seems to be only a non-dinosaurian dinosauromorph. Not to be confounded with ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeNonDinosaurianReptiles Saltoposuchus]]'', a tiny crocodilomorph from Triassic Europe also common in old books because was once thought the common ancestor of dinos, birds and crocs.

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornitholestes Bird thieves,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelurus or what?]]: ''Ornitholestes'' and ''Coelurus''

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaphrosaurus False]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noasaurus relationships]]: ''Elaphrosaurus'' and ''Noasaurus''

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanlong Tyrannosaurs went a long way]]: ''Guanlong''

* Well, it’s true. The undisputable charm of ''[[TyrannosaurusRex T. rex]]'' is also due to the [[IncrediblyLamePun long]] travel it made to become the Ultimate-King. Tyrannosaurs were already around in the Jurassic, but were still small, uncospicuous animals similar to an ''Ornitholestes'' or an ''Elaphrosaurus'' in shape. But this is an extremely recent knowledge, confirmed as recently as in 2006. The merit belongs to a very undinosaur-sounding dinosaur: ''[[IncrediblyLamePun Guanlong]]''. Today, ''Guanlong'' may be the most famed dinosaur with “long” (in Chinese means [[DinosaursAreDragons dragon]]). The trend to call Chinese dinosaurs with this suffix has started only in the early 2000s; since then “dino-long”s have become more and more common, with at least one new-entry for every year. Easily recognizable thanks to its bizarre helmet-like crest, the 10-ft-[[AWorldwidePunomenon long]] Guanlong lived in Late Jurassic; despite its vaguely ''Coelophysis''-like look, ''Guanlong'' was the most ancient tyrannosaur known in 2006. In the last years has lost the record in favor of ''Proceratosaurus'' (a Middle Jurassic European theropod known for a century from a partial skull with a horn on the nose); however, the sensationalism which surrounded the fact “the first [[TyrannosaurusRex The First Tyrannosaur]]!” soon gave it a great attention in media. ''Guanlong'' appeared as the protagonist of one documentary appositely dedicated to it (a very rare honor for such a recently-discovered dinosaur); and was also portrayed in the third movie within the ''IceAge'' series in place of the stock dromaeosaurids. Could it become a [[StockDinosaurs stock dinosaur]] in the next future?

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scipionyx A dinosaur with plenty of guts]]: ''Scipionyx''

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megapnosaurus Big dead lizard]]: ''Megapnosaurus''

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procompsognathus The other compy]]: ''Procompsognathus'' and ''Saltopus''

* ''Procompsognathus'' lived in the Triassic Period in Europe together with ''Plateosaurus''. It shared with ''Compsognathus'' the same overall shape, the same size (about 4 ft long), the same country (Germany) and a very similar name (“before ''Compsognathus''”). Despite all this, ''Procompsognathus'' was not related to its Late Jurassic namesake, nor was it its direct ancestor at all: it is usually thought to be a small coelophysoid, but could also have been a non-dinosaurian archosaur. In 1990, ''Procompsognathus'' has gained notoriety thanks to its apparition in the first ''JurassicPark'' novel, depicted as a scavenger which paralyzed its victims with a [[RuleOfCool totally speculative venomous bite]]. This is indeed the original "Compy" in the ''Jurassic Park'' world. Before, ''Procompsognathus'' was an obscure animal, as is [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the novel itself – with Alan Grant thinking the drawing made by the child who saw the “compy” alive was not fake, just because “even dino-lovers don’t know ''Procompsognathus''”. However, seven years later, Spielberg decided to play straight StockDinosaurs and chose the more familiar ''Compsognathus'' in the same role in JurassicPark 2. Considering that the “procompy” is known from much scantier remains than the usual 'Compy', this might be [[YourMileageMayVary partially justified]]. See also ''[[StockDinosaurs Compsognathus]]''. Another alleged theropod from Triassic Europe is ''Saltopus''. A rare Scottish speciality (almost all British dinosaurs have been found in southern England), being merely 2 ft long, ''Saltopus'' was sometimes referred as “the smallest dinosaur” in old books (when ''Compsognathus'' wasn't already), but now it seems to be only a non-dinosaurian dinosauromorph. Not to be confounded with ''[[UsefulNotes/PrehistoricLifeNonDinosaurianReptiles Saltoposuchus]]'', a tiny crocodilomorph from Triassic Europe also common in old books because was once thought the common ancestor of dinos, birds and crocs.



[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protoavis The other first-bird]] (maybe): ''Protoavis''

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procompsognathus The other compy]]: ''Procompsognathus''

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornitholestes Bird thieves,]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coelurus or what?]]

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaphrosaurus False]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noasaurus relationships]]

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanlong Tyrannosaurs went a long way]]

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scipionyx A dinosaur with plenty of guts]]

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megapnosaurus Big dead lizard]]

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procompsognathus The other compy]]

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protoavis The other first-bird]] (maybe)

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanlong Tyrannosaurs travelled a long way]]