Name meaning: Hollow Form

Time Period: Carnian to Norian (Late Triassic) 215–201.4 Mya

Locations: Arizona/New Mexico-Ghost Ranch site

Taxonomy: Theropoda-‬Coelophysidae-Coelophysinae

Subspecies: C. bauri

Characteristics ~ ~ ~ ~

Coelophysis is considered to be the most iconic Triassic Dinosaur, at only 3m long and 1m tall. Coelophysis is but a humble beginning when compared to dinosaurs of the later Jurassic and Cretaceous. Only reaching a length of  9 feet around the height of your stomach, and around 30 lbs. Coelophysis was lightly built, narrow and slender with a long neck, tail, and leg; the name Coelophysis means “Hollow Form’ referring to its leg bones, which were hollow like birds and were capable of running at speeds of around 25 miles per hour. Coelophysis had 4 fingered arms but only 3 of those fingers were poseable as the 4th finger was purely vestigial and in the process of evolving out. Coelophysis had a notch in its upper jaw and long narrow teeth adaptations which would have likely helped them catch fish, small reptiles, and early mammals. Coelophysis took around 3 years to reach sexual maturity but 8 years to reach their maximum size. Coelophysis plumage is unknown with most restorations depicting it with either proto fur or completely scaly. Coelophysis were likely solitary animals with no parental care, only gathering for courtships or at large carion. Other species in the ghost ranch site are Plateosaurus, Postosuchus, and Desmatosuchus; its cloesest relatives were Megapnosaurus, Procompsognathus, Segisaurus.

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History & Fossils ~ ~ ~ ~

Coelophysis was discovered all the way back in 1889 with multiple by Edward Drinker Cope originally naming the specimens under 3 different genuses Coelurus longicollis, and Coelurus bauri, Tanystrophaeus willistoni. A misconception that Coelophysis was a cannibal arose when a Coelophysis was fossilized with a small reptile within it, which was misidentified as a juvenile Coelophysis and later found to be a small lizard. Canibalism is uncommon in dinosaurs only  Majungasaurus and Allosaurus have been found with evidence supporting cannibalism. Coelophysis is the State fossil for New Mexico and a Coelophysis skull has been to Space aboard the Endeavor space shuttle in 1998.

Media Deptictions ~ ~ ~ ~

Walking with Dinosaurs Coelophysis is a major part of the first episode of walking with dinosaurs New Blood Showing the adaptations which allowed it to thrive and give way to the later dinosaurs. In the show seen hunting lungfish, Thrinaxodon pups and the dying Postosuchus. In the episode Coelophysis has cannibalistic behavior based on the aforementioned fossil. I love the red sands seen throughout the episode it was filmed in New Caledonia which is a beautiful place.

Jurassic World Evolution Coelophysis was one of the only new dinosaurs added to Jwe2 at launch. A scavenger in the game Coelophysis only eats from the meat feeder, but will hunt humans and goats if it has to. Accurate and cool design, my only problem with it is the skins. They all have this verteabral column pattern that looks to uniform making me not want to give them a pattern at all. (don’t put them with other small scavengers even though it says they easily cohabitate with Compsagnathus or Sinosauropteryx other Coelophysis will just eat them when it gets bored.)

Extras: ~ ~ ~ ~

JWE2 Coelophysis by AllThingsSaurus on Sketchfab