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Glite Dictionary
compsognathus

compsognathus

1 9.9
A very small meat-eating dinosaur that walked on two legs in the late Jurassic
  • noun
  • /ˌkɒmpsəɡˈneɪθəs/
  • Specialized
: compsognato
  • The compsognathus was a small dinosaur.

Examples

  • Paleontologists believe that compsognathus hunted insects and small vertebrates.

  • The compsognathus was among the smallest dinosaurs ever discovered.

  • A fossilized compsognathus was unearthed in the Bavarian limestone.

  • Did you know that compsognathus lived during the late Jurassic?

  • While exploring the fossil site, the paleontologist uncovered the remains of a compsognathus, a small carnivorous dinosaur.

  • The compsognathus was known for its agility and speed, making it one of the fascinating dinosaurs of the late Jurassic period.

  • During our visit to the museum, we saw a detailed skeleton of a compsognathus, which lived in what is now Bavaria.

Surface Forms

compsognathus singular
compsognathi plural

Etymology

Compsognathus comes from Greek roots kompsos ('elegant') and gnathos ('jaw'). So the name means 'elegant jaw', a simple image to remember this very small, two-legged dinosaur with a neat, bird-like jaw.