Coelophysis
SEE-loh-FY-sis /ˌsiːloʊˈfaɪsɪs/
Accepted genus
hollow form
- koilos · Greek · hollow
- physis · Greek · form, nature
The name Coelophysis refers to the hollow, thin-walled bones of its skeleton, which made it lightweight and agile. Cope chose it to describe the hollow vertebrae, which are somewhat like the hollow stems of plants.
- Named by
- Cope
- Year named
- 1889
- Period
- Late Triassic
- Stage
- Norian
- Found in
- Chinle Formation, Ghost Ranch, New Mexico, USA
A small, early theropod dinosaur. The type species is Coelophysis bauri. Ghost Ranch has yielded many specimens, which suggests the animals lived in groups.