Coelurus
Coelurus fragilis
Coelurus is a genus of coelurosaurian dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period (mid-late Kimmeridgian faunal stage, 155–152 million years ago). The name means "hollow tail", referring to its hollow tail vertebrae (Greek κοῖλος, koilos = hollow + οὐρά, oura = tail). Although its name is linked to one of the main divisions of theropods (Coelurosauria), it has historically been poorly understood, and sometimes confused with its better-known contemporary Ornitholestes. Like many dinosaurs studied in the early years of paleontology, it has had a confusing taxonomic history, with several species being named and later transferred to other genera or abandoned. Only one species is currently recognized as valid: the type species, C. fragilis, described by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1879. It is known from one partial skeleton found in the Morrison Formation of Wyoming, United States. It was a small bipedal carnivore with elongate legs.
- Family
- Coeluridae
- Order
- Saurischia
- Period
- Jurassic (154.0–150.8 Ma)
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Length
- 1.8–2.5 m
- Weight
- 13–20 kg
- Type locality
- Morrison Formation, Wyoming, USA
- Holotype
- YPM 1991
- PBDB
- txn:38528