Compsognathus

Compsognathus
Release Version: Return to Jurassic Park

Classification

DietCarnivore
HabitatTerrestrial
EraLate Jurassic
FamilyCompsognathidae
GenusCompsognathus
Bio GroupSmall Carnivore

Size

Height (m)0
Length (m)1
Weight (kg)2

Rating

Base Appeal10
Appeal (Per $1MM)105.3
Appeal (Per Hectare)144.4
Base AppealAppeal (Per $1MM)Appeal (Per Hectare)
Compsognathus
Median

Stats

Lifespan40 - 70
Resilience45
Attack9
Defence5
Medical Dart Resistance22
Sedative Resistance22
Poison Resistance40

Environmental Needs

Comfort threshold5%
Grassland (m2)450050%
Forest (m2)450050%

Cohabitation Preferences

Social Group1 - 25
Ideal Population0 - 30

Unlock requirements

Unlocked by retrieving the fossil from one of the following dig sites:

Dig SitesFossil QualityFossil QuantityLocationsDurationCost
Canjuers2Europe | France | Canjuers02:00$75,000
★★5
★★★3
Solnhofen Formation★★★4Europe | Germany | Kelheim02:00$75,000
1
★★5

Incubation

Duration00:40 - 00:45
Cost95,000

Disease

ImmuneBracken Poisoning
SusceptibleNone

Description

Compsognathus is a genus of small theropod carnivores, with a name derived from the Greek 'kompsos', meaning 'elegant or 'dainty', and 'gnathos', meaning 'jaw'. These dinosaurs lived in the Late Jurassic in what is now Europe.Weighing between 0.83 and 3.5kg, Compsognathus would have relied on its quick reactions and high speed and manoeuvrability in order to catch its prey, which - unlike other dinosaurs - is well known due to fossil evidence of small lizards found in the stomachs of both known specimens.

Discovery

Two Compsognathus specimens have been discovered in Europe. The first discovery, an almost complete skeleton, was found in Germany in 1859. The dinosaur was given the name Compsognathus longipes and described as a very small carnivore. A larger skeleton was discovered in France in 1971 - this specimen revealed that the German skeleton was likely that of a juvenile.

Paleoecology

The area Compsognathus specimens have been found in would have at the time been a tropical, coastal environment. This is supported by fossil evidence of other aquatic animals like crustaceans. Compsognathus mainly preyed upon land-dwelling vertebrates.