Compsognathus

Compsognathus (komp-sog-NAY-thus) lived in the Late Jurassic period of Germany, France and perhaps Portugal. Though traditionally touted as the smallest dinosaur, several others are now known to be smaller (e.g. Microraptor, Parvicursor, Caenagnathasia). Compsognathus is known from two nearly complete skeletons, one from Germany that is 2.9 feet long (1.3 pounds), another from France that is 4.1 feet (5.5 pounds). Teeth from Portugal have also been assigned to the genus. Though the French specimen was originally described as a separate species (Compsognathus corallestris), both it and the German specimen are now thought to be Compsognathus longipes. A partial foot has also been referred to Compsognathus, but this has subsequently been disproven. The lizard Bavariasaurus has been found in its thoracic cavity, suggesting Compsognathus preyed on small vertebrates. Compsognathus may have had only two fingers, since no bones of a third finger have been found. However, the hands are disarticulated, so this is still uncertain. For many years, Compsognathus was the only well known small theropod, so was compared to Archaeopteryx as a dinosaurian ancestor/relative of birds. We now know that many other kinds of dinosaurs were more closely related to birds, including segnosaurs, oviraptorosaurs and deinonychosaurs. It's often argued that Compsognathus lacked feathers, because none are preserved with either skeleton, while Archaeopteryx was found in the same sediments, but always preserves feathers. However, the only feathers always preserved on Archaeopteryx are the large ones on the wings and tail. The short feathers which cover the body are rarely preserved. Compsognathus' relative, Sinosauropteryx, only has these short kinds of feathers. So it's likely Compsognathus was feathered too.