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Coelurus

Dinosaur profile

Coelurus

CarnivoreLate JurassicSmall Theropod

Pronunciation

See-lur-us

Meaning

Hollow tail

Type

Small Theropod

Length

1.8-2.4 meters long

Period

Late Jurassic

Years

155-145 million years ago

Location

USA

Diet

Carnivore

About Coelurus

Coelurus is a genus of small, bipedal dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic Period, about 155-150 million years ago. It was a member of the group of dinosaurs called theropods, which also includes species such as Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor. Coelurus was a small, agile dinosaur, with an estimated length of about 6-8 feet and a weight of about 20-30 pounds. It had a small, triangular head with sharp teeth and powerful jaw muscles, as well as long, slender legs and a long, whip-like tail. Its body was probably covered in a layer of feathers.

Coelurus is known from a number of well-preserved fossil specimens, including several partial skeletons and skulls, which have helped paleontologists learn more about the anatomy and behavior of this dinosaur. It is considered a primitive theropod, and is thought to be closely related to other early theropods such as Eoraptor and Chindesaurus. Coelurus is known from the western United States, and is named after the Greek words 'koilos,' meaning 'hollow,' and 'oura,' meaning 'tail,' in reference to the hollow spaces in its bones. It is thought to have been an opportunistic predator, feeding on a variety of small prey including lizards, mammals, and other dinosaurs.

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