Coelophysis fossil map
Where fossils of Coelophysis have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 215 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 215 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Theropods |
|---|---|
| Lived | 227.3–192.9 million years ago (Norian to Sinemurian) |
| Periods | Triassic, Jurassic |
| Family | Coelophysidae |
| Named by | Cope 1889 |
| Fossil records | 30 occurrences at 16 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Japan |
| Rock formations | Chinle, Petrified Forest, Sakishima, Tecovas, Portland, Shuttle Meadow |
About Coelophysis
Coelophysis is an extinct genus of coelophysid theropod dinosaurs that lived approximately 215 to 201.4 million years ago during the late Triassic period from the middle Norian to Rhaetian age in what is now the southwestern United States. Megapnosaurus was once considered to be a species within this genus, but this interpretation has been challenged and the genus Megapnosaurus is now considered valid.
Coelophysis was a small, slenderly built, ground-dwelling, bipedal carnivore that could grow up to 3 m (9.8 ft) long. It is one of the earliest known dinosaur genera. Scattered material representing similar animals has been found worldwide in some Late Triassic and Early Jurassic formations.
The type species C. bauri, originally placed in the genus Coelurus by Edward Drinker Cope in 1887, was described by the latter in 1889. The names Longosaurus and Rioarribasaurus are synonymous with Coelophysis. Coelophysis is one of the most specimen-rich dinosaur genera.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Coelophysis (revision 1375603634), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in.
