Compsognathus, << komp SOG nuh thuhs, >> was one of the smallest known dinosaurs. It grew to about the size of a chicken or turkey, measuring around 21/2 feet (0.8 meter) long and weighing approximately 6 to 7 pounds (2.7 to 3.2 kilograms). The animal lived from about 155 million to 145 million years ago, in the final years of the Jurassic Period.
Compsognathus had a light but powerful body with long legs, birdlike feet, and short arms. Powerful claws on the end of each finger served as weapons. The dinosaur was agile and could run quickly on its hind legs, using its long tail to provide balance. Compsognathus also had an elongated, flexible neck and a narrow, pointed head. Its name means elegant jaw in Greek. Like modern birds, Compsognathus had hollow bones.
Compsognathus lived in what is now Europe, probably inhabiting coastal environments around lagoons. It hunted and ate insects, lizards, and small mammals. Scientists found the remains of a small lizard in the stomach area of one Compsognathus skeleton.
