"Compsognathus triassicus. Found by Fraas in Bavaria in 1913." —Robert Burke(src) Compsognathus is an extinct genus compsognathid theropod dinosaur that lived in Germany and France during the Late Jurassic period. This little pack hunter probably ate bugs and small lizards. In fact, the first fossil skeleton of this dinosaur had the remains of its last meal, a lizard, still in its stomach.. The Compsognathus lived during the Late Jurassic period, roughly 150 million years ago. That means it lived in the same time period as the Stegosaurus! In The Lost World, Compsognathus are cute pack hunters. Keep in mind that even the smallest of dinosaurs are dangerous in large groups! Compsognathus means 'elegant jaw' in Greek. This tiny dinosaur is known for its graceful appearance.
Compsognathus is one of the smallest theropods ever to have existed, at under 1m in length and weighing little over 2kg - roughly the size of a chicken. Despite its small stature Compsognathus is a carnivore, using its speed and agility to hunt down lizards, insects and even other small dinosaurs. Compsognathus' name translates to 'pretty jaw', a reference to its long, narrow snout.. Compsognathus (/ kɒmpˈsɒɡnəθəs /; [1] Greek kompsos /κομψός; "elegant", "refined" or "dainty", and gnathos /γνάθος; "jaw") [2] is a genus of small, bipedal, carnivorous theropod dinosaur. Members of its single species Compsognathus longipes could grow to around the size of a chicken. They lived about 150 million years ago, during the Tithonian age of the late Jurassic period.