Pronunciation: pro-COMP-sog-NATH-us
Meaning: before Compsognathus
Author/s: Fraas (1913)
Synonyms: Hallopus celerrimus (Fraas, 1912)
First Discovery: Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Discovery Chart Position: #106
Procompsognathus triassicus
When the smashed and poorly-preserved Burrer Quarry remains of what would become Procompsognathus were first wheeled out during a 1912 lecture, Professor Eberhard Fraas referred to them as "Hallopus celerrimus" and announced that they belonged to some form of jumping dinosaur. Perhaps coincidentally, fellow German Friedrich von Huene said the same thing about Saltopus ("hopping foot") when he described its even poorer remains two years earlier, so he took an immediate shine to this new critter. Unfortunately, exuberance often ensues his self-written invitation to study dinosaurs of the theropod variety, which leaves a tangled mess for future experts to clean up. But, to be fair, it's not entirely his fault in this case.
(Update in progress...)
(Update in progress...)
(Ancestor of Compsognathus from the Triassic)Etymology
Procompsognathus is derived from the Greek "pro" (before, ancestor of) and "Compsognathus" (a compsognathid dinosaur whose name means "elegant jaw"). However, this is a misnomer because subsequent research has failed to support a direct lineage. The species epithet, triassicus, refers to the Triassic age in which it lived.
Discovery
The remains of Procompsognathus were discovered at "Weiße Steinbruch" (Burrer Quarry) in the Middle Stubensandstein member of the Löwenstein Formation, Pfaffenheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, by Albert Burrer in the spring of 1909.
The holotype (SMNS 12591) is a poorly preserved partial skeleton.
