Dinosaurs A to Z
Compsognathidae

Saurornithoides sor-rɔːrnih-THOYDIːZ

Generic theropod body-plan outline
You 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tall
Saurornithoides 5 m (16.4 ft) long
as long as 3 people standing fingertip to fingertip
generic theropod body plan, scaled to length — not a silhouette of Saurornithoides
Length
5 m (16.4 ft)
Period
Late Cretaceous (75 Mya)
Food
Carnivore
Clade
Compsognathidae

Saurornithoides ( ) is a genus of troodontid maniraptoran dinosaur, which lived during the Late Cretaceous period. These creatures were predators, which could run fast on their hind legs and had excellent sight and hearing. The name is derived from the Greek stems saur~ (lizard), ornith~ (bird) and eides (form), referring to its bird-like skull.

What we know

  • Named by Osborn, 1924.

What we guess

The reconstruction notes for Saurornithoides — soft tissue, color, behavior — haven't been written up yet. Only the recorded basics above are filled in so far.