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Coelophysis
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Coelophysis was a small, 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 meters) tall, dinosaur that lived in
North America in the late Triassic period,
about 225 to 220 million years ago.
It is in fact one of the earliest known dinosaurs.
The first discovery of the remains of Coelophysis was in 1881 by an amateur
fossil
collector named David Baldwin.
The name Coelophysis was coined by
Edward D. Cope
in 1889, and means "hollow form", in reference to the animal's
hollow bones.
In 1947,
at Ghost Ranch in
New Mexico,
about a dozen
Coelophysis
fossils were found
together, which suggests they may have lived together in groups. An
alternative (and not necessary incompatible) theory is that the animals were
all killed in a flash flood which swept them away and buried them all together.
Fossilized stomach contents have also been found, and Coelophysis is known to
have been a meat-eater, eating among other things, small reptiles, fish,
and other Coelophysis of different sizes, indicating that it was a cannibal.
Coelophysis has been designated the official state fossil of
New Mexico, since
1981.
Coelophysis was the second dinosaur in space, when the space shuttle Endeavour
carried a Coelophysis skull to the Mir space station, in
1998.
Coelophysis was a carnivore (meat-eater) that lived from 225 to 220 million years ago
Related Information & Resources
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Coelophysis Facts
Here is a summary of some of the key facts about Coelophysis:
- Coelophysis was a genus of dinosaur.
- "Coelophysis" means "hollow form" (referring to its hollow bones). This name was chosen by Edward D. Cope in 1889.
- Coelophysis was a member of the Saurischia ("lizard-hipped") order of dinosaurs. What this means, is that although Coelophysis was not closely related to lizards, it did have similarly shaped pelvic bones.
- Coelophysis lived between about 225 million years ago and 220 million years ago, during the Triassic period.
- Coelophysis lived in North America.
- Coelophysis was a carnivore (meat-eater).
- Coelophysis may have been a cannibal. The evidence for this is fossilized remains of supposedly juvenile animals found "within" larger animals. However, in recent years, a number of scientists argue that such evidence has been misinterpreted, and there is no reason to believe that Coelophysis was a cannibal.
- Coelophysis was about 8 feet (2.4 meters) to 10 feet (3 meters) tall.
- Coelophysis is the official state fossil of New Mexico.
Coelophysis Toys
Kenner
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An adventure 65 million years in the making! Using fossilized DNA, intrepid scientists clone extinct dinosaurs with great success. But when man manipulates nature, the results can be unpredictable... and deadly! Bring Jurassic Park to life with this line of action figures and accessories by Kenner. The Coelophysis, or Sprinters, come as a pair, both of which are approximately 6 inches in length and are bendable and posable. Collect them all, each sold seperately. |
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Coelophysis Books
By Dougal Dixon
Picture Window Books
Library Binding (24 pages; 1)
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By Richard M. Gaines
Buddy Books
Library Binding (32 pages; 1)
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By Edwin Harris Colbert
Museum of Northern Arizona
Paperback (174 pages)
| List Price: $14.95
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By Graham Coleman
Gareth Stevens Publishing
Hardcover
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By Lynett Gillette
Petrified Forest Museum Association
Unknown Binding (32 pages)
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By D. W. Fisher
New York State Museum, Albany New York
Paperback
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By Janet Riehecky
Childs World
School & Library Binding (32 pages)
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By Graham Coleman
Gareth Stevens Publishing
Library Binding (24 pages; 1)
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Mankato, MN Child's World
Unknown Binding
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By Dick Dudley
ABC/The All Children's Co
Paperback (12 pages)
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Brief text and pop-up illustrations depict the Coelophysis, a relatively small carnivorous dinosaur. |
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