Coelurus Facts
Pronunciation: see-LOR-us
Name meaning: Hollow Tail
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Height | 0.7m |
| Length | 2.4m |
| Weight | 13 kg |
| Speed | 25 km/h |
| Environment | Land |
| Era | Jurassic |
| Period | Late Jurassic |
| Type | Theropod |
| Location | United States |
Coelurus was a small, agile theropod dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period, approximately 158 to 151 million years ago. This lightly built carnivore inhabited the ancient floodplains and forests of what is now Wyoming, sharing its environment with famous giants like Diplodocus and Allosaurus. Despite giving its name to the major theropod group Coelurosauria, Coelurus itself remains one of the more mysterious dinosaurs from this well-studied period.
Standing about 70 centimetres tall at the hip and measuring around 2.4 metres in length, Coelurus was built for speed and agility rather than power. Its most distinctive feature was its unusually long, slender legs, which suggest it was an excellent runner. The dinosaur's name, meaning 'hollow tail', refers to the air-filled chambers in its tail vertebrae - a weight-saving adaptation that would have made it even more nimble. Its small skull housed sharp, pointed teeth perfect for catching small prey.
As a carnivore, Coelurus likely hunted small animals such as early mammals, lizards, and possibly young dinosaurs. Its long arms ended in three-fingered hands with sharp claws, ideal for grasping prey. The combination of keen eyesight, quick reflexes, and impressive running speed would have made it a formidable predator of small creatures in its Late Jurassic ecosystem.
Unfortunately, our understanding of Coelurus is limited by the fragmentary nature of its fossil remains. Only one partial skeleton has been discovered, leading to ongoing debates about its exact appearance and relationships to other theropods. This has sometimes caused confusion with its contemporary relative, Ornitholestes.
What made Coelurus distinctive?
Coelurus had remarkably long, slender legs relative to its body size, giving it a gracile, runner-like build. Its tail vertebrae contained distinctive hollow chambers, and it possessed elongated arms with three-fingered hands ending in sharp claws.
Behaviour
Coelurus was likely a swift pursuit predator, using its exceptional running speed to chase down small, fast-moving prey across the Late Jurassic landscape. Its build suggests it was primarily a terrestrial hunter that relied on agility rather than strength to capture food.
Discovery
Coelurus was first described by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1879. The original fossils were discovered at Morrison Formation, Wyoming, USA.
Coelurus FAQ
What did Coelurus eat?
Coelurus was a carnivore that likely hunted small animals such as early mammals, lizards, insects, and possibly young dinosaurs. Its sharp, pointed teeth and grasping claws were perfectly adapted for catching and eating small, quick prey in the
Late Jurassic period.
How big was Coelurus?
Coelurus was quite small for a theropod, standing about 70 centimetres tall at the hip and measuring approximately 2.4 metres in total length. It weighed around 13 kilograms, making it roughly the size of a large dog but much more lightly built.
When did Coelurus live?
Coelurus lived during the
Late Jurassic period, approximately 158 to 151 million years ago. This was during the height of the 'Age of Dinosaurs', when many of the most famous dinosaurs like
Diplodocus and
Stegosaurus also roamed the Earth.
Where was Coelurus found?
Coelurus fossils have been found in the Morrison Formation of Wyoming, United States. This famous rock formation has yielded many important dinosaur discoveries and represents ancient floodplains and forests from the
Late Jurassic period.
How do you pronounce Coelurus?
Coelurus is pronounced 'see-LOR-us'. The name comes from Greek words meaning 'hollow tail', referring to the distinctive air-filled chambers found in this dinosaur's tail vertebrae.
What does Coelurus mean?
Coelurus means 'hollow tail' in Greek. This name was chosen because of the distinctive hollow chambers found in the dinosaur's tail vertebrae, which would have made the tail lighter and helped with balance during fast running.
How fast could Coelurus run?
Based on its exceptionally long legs and lightweight build, scientists estimate that Coelurus could run at speeds of up to 25 km/h. Its proportionally longer legs than almost any other known theropod suggest it was built specifically for speed and agility.
What type of dinosaur was Coelurus?
Coelurus was a small theropod dinosaur, belonging to the family Coeluridae. Interestingly, despite being a relatively obscure dinosaur itself, Coelurus gave its name to Coelurosauria, one of the major groups of theropod dinosaurs that includes modern birds.
Was Coelurus related to birds?
Yes, as a coelurosaurian theropod, Coelurus was part of the dinosaur group that eventually gave rise to modern birds. However, Coelurus itself lived much earlier than the first known birds and was not a direct ancestor, but rather a member of the broader theropod family tree.
How many Coelurus fossils have been found?
Only one partial skeleton of Coelurus has been discovered since it was first described in 1879. This limited fossil evidence has made it difficult for scientists to fully understand this dinosaur's anatomy and behaviour, leading to ongoing debates about its exact appearance and relationships.
