monster Dinosaur Compsognathus

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Compsognathus was a small, bipedal, carnivorous theropod dinosaur. The animal was the size of a chicken and lived around 150 million years ago, the early Tithonian stage of the late Jurassic Period, in what is now Europe. Paleontologists have found two well-preserved fossils, one in Germany in the 1850s and the second in France more than a century later. Compsognathus is one of the few dinosaurs for which the diet is known with certainty: the remains of small, agile lizards are preserved in the bellies of both specimens. Teeth discovered in Portugal may be further fossil remains of the genus.

Although not recognized as such at the time of its discovery, Compsognathus is the first dinosaur known from a reasonably complete skeleton. Today, C. longipes is the only recognized species, although the larger specimen discovered in France in the 1970s was once thought to belong to a separate species, C. corallestris. Until the 1980s and 1990s, Compsognathus was the smallest known dinosaur and the closest supposed relative of the early bird Archaeopteryx. Thus, the genus is one of the few dinosaur genera to be well known outside of paleontological circles.

Description

For decades, Compsognathus was famed as the smallest dinosaur known; the specimens collected were around 1 meter (3 ft) in length. However, dinosaurs discovered later, such as Caenagnathasia, Microraptor and Parvicursor, were even smaller. Compsognathus is estimated to have weighed around 3 kg (6.5 lb).

Compsognathus was a small, bipedal animal with long hind legs and a longer tail, which it used for balance during locomotion. The forelimbs were smaller than the hindlimbs and featured three digits equipped with solid claws suited for grasping prey. Its delicate skull was narrow and long, with a tapered snout.

The lower jaw was slender and had no mandibular fenestra, a hole in the lower jawbone commonly seen in archosaurs. The teeth were small but sharp, suited for its diet of small vertebrates and possibly other small animals, such as insects. Its frontmost teeth were unserrated, unlike those further back in the jaw.

This reptile has a long, elegant snout that is filled with needle-like teeth. It darts and hops about on two powerful legs.

Compsognathus is a bipedal dinosaur about the size of a chicken, 3 feet long and 1 foot tall. It weighs about six lbs. These little creatures mostly eat bugs and other insects, and often travel in numerous packs and tend to be nocturnal.

Compsognathus
Small Animal
Hit Dice	1/4d8+1 (2 hp)
Initiative	+2 (+2 Dex)
Speed	30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class	13 (+1 size, +2 Dex), touch 13, flat-footed 11
Base Attack/Grapple	0/-6
Attack	Bite +3 melee (1d4 -2)
Full Attack	Bite +3 melee (1d4 -2)
Space/Reach	5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	-
Special Qualities	Low-light vision
Saves	Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +1
Abilities	Str 6, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 9
Skills	Hide +6, Listen +7, Spot +8
Feats	Weapon Finesse
Environment	Warm forests
Organization	Solitary, Hunt (2-5), or Pack (5-20)
Challenge Rating	1/8
Treasure	None
Alignment	Always neutral
Advancement	1/2-1 HD (Small); 2-4 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment	-

While Compsognathus will generally flee from an opponent larger than itself when alone, in large groups these creatures are capable of taking out prey larger than themselves - though usually nothing larger than medium size. They are easily frightened by a show of force from a larger opponent, and should they take any sort of damage, will flee to seek easier prey.

Compsognathus was a bird-like dinosaur about the size chicken, but with a long neck and long tail. A meat eater that preys on lizard and small mammals, it is also a scavenger. Its saliva is mildly poisonous which sedates their victim after being bitten. Some healers use this saliva as a painkiller.

Combat
Poison (Ex) Bite, Fortitude save (DC 11), initial and secondary damage 1d4 temporary Constitution.

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Small Beast
Hit Dice	1d10+1 (6 hp)
Initiative	+2 (Dex)
Speed	30 ft.
AC	15 (+1 Size +2 Dex, +2 natural)
Attacks	Bite +3 melee
Damage	Bite 1d4
Face/Reach	5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attack	Poison
Special Qualities	Scent
Saves	Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities	Str 10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6
Skills	Listen +2, Spot +2
Climate/Terrain	Warm forest, hill, and plains
Organization	Pair, or flock (3-15)
Challenge Rating	1
Treasure	None
Alignment	Always neutral
Advancement	2-4 HD (Medium)