# Compsosaurus

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Extinct genus of reptiles

Not to be confused with [Compsognathus](/source/Compsognathus) or [Compsosuchus](/source/Compsosuchus).

Compsosaurus Temporal range: Late Triassic, 205.6–201.6 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: †Phytosauria Family: †Parasuchidae Genus: †Compsosaurus Leidy, 1856 Type species †Compsosaurus priscus Leidy, 1856 Synonyms Belodon priscus? Leidy, 1856

***Compsosaurus*** (meaning "elegant lizard"[1]) is an [extinct](/source/Extinct) [genus](/source/Genus) of [phytosaur](/source/Phytosaur), a crocodile-like reptile that lived during the [Triassic](/source/Triassic). Its fossils have been found in [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina). The [type species](/source/Type_species), ***Compsosaurus priscus***, was named by American [paleontologist](/source/Paleontology) [Joseph Leidy](/source/Joseph_Leidy) in 1856,[2] although other sources say 1857.[3][4][5] *Compsosaurus* may have been the same animal as the related *[Belodon](/source/Belodon)*.

Only four teeth are known, discovered in the [Carnian](/source/Carnian)-[Rhaetian](/source/Rhaetian)-aged coal fields of [Chatham County](/source/Chatham_County%2C_North_Carolina), North Carolina (probably [Red Sandstone Formation](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Red_Sandstone_Formation&action=edit&redlink=1)) and the [New Oxford Formation](/source/New_Oxford_Formation) of [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania).[6]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Phytosauria Translation and Pronunciation Guide](https://web.archive.org/web/20070328204157/http://www.dinosauria.com/dml/names/phyto.htm) from Dinosauria.com

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Leidy. J.](/source/Joseph_Leidy) (1856). Notice of some remains of extinct vertebrated animals. *Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia*. 163-165

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Compsosaurus*](https://www.gbif.org/species/162883756) at [GBIF](/source/GBIF).org

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Rees, T. (compiler) (2020). *The Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera*. Available from [http://www.irmng.org](http://www.irmng.org) at VLIZ. Accessed 2020-03-24

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset [https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei](https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei) accessed via GBIF.org on 2020-07-15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*Compsosaurus*](http://www.paleofile.com/Pseudosuchia/Compsosaurus.asp) at [Paleofile](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paleofile&action=edit&redlink=1).org

v t e Phytosauria Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Clade: Archosauromorpha Clade: Crurotarsi Sauropsida see Sauropsida Archosauromorpha see Archosauromorpha Phytosauria see below↓ Phytosauria Phytosauria Calamosuchus Diandongosuchus Heteropelta? Parasuchidae Arganarhinus Ebrachosuchus Paleorhinus Parasuchus Wannia Mystriosuchinae / Phytosauridae Angistorhinus Brachysuchus Colossosuchus Jupijkam Protome Rutiodon Volcanosuchus Leptosuchomorpha Leptosuchus Pravusuchus Smilosuchus Mystriosuchini Angistorhinopsis Machaeroprosopus Mystriosuchus Nicrosaurus Redondasaurus Nomina dubia Belodon Centemodon Clepsysaurus? Coburgosuchus Compsosaurus Francosuchus Heterodontosuchus Mesorhinosuchus Omosaurus? Palaeoctonus? Phytosaurus Rileyasuchus Suchoprion Termatosaurus? Category

Taxon identifiers Compsosaurus Wikidata: Q96375369 GBIF: 4822515 Paleobiology Database: 120560

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Compsosaurus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compsosaurus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compsosaurus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.