What is compsognathidae?

Compsognathidae is a family of small theropod dinosaurs that lived during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods, approximately 157 to 125 million years ago. They were bipedal and carnivorous and had long, slender hind legs, short arms, and sharp teeth.

The best-known genus in this family is Compsognathus, a small dinosaur that lived in what is now Germany and France during the Late Jurassic period. It was about the size of a chicken, reaching only 1 meter (3.3 feet) in length and weighing around 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds).

Another well-known genus in this family is Sinosauropteryx, which lived during the Early Cretaceous period in what is now China. It is notable for having the first known feathers found on a non-avian dinosaur.

Compsognathids are believed to be close relatives of birds, and some scientists believe they may have been capable of powered flight or gliding. Their fossils have been found in Europe, Asia, and South America.