Compsognathidae
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 Model of the compsognathid Sinosauropteryx.
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Compsognathidae is a family of small carnivorous dinosaurs, generally conservative in form, from the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. Compsognathids lie at or near the origin of feathers--skin impressions are known from two genera, Sinosauropteryx and Juravenator. While Sinosauropteryx shows evidence of a full covering of simple, primitive feathers, Juravenator shows evidence of scales on the tail and hind legs. It is possible that feathers arose within this family, and/or that some species were only partially feathered.
In 2003, O.W.M. Rauhut redefined the family Coeluridae to include Coelurus (Late Jurassic, North America), Compsognathus (Late Jurassic, Europe), Sinosauropteryx (Early Cretaceous, Asia) and an unnamed Compsognathus-like form (Early Cretaceous, South America; this dinosaur has since been placed in the new genus Mirischia). However, this taxonomy has not been widely adopted. Sereno (2005) points out that Compsognathidae has priority of name, even if dinosaurs such as Coelurus or Ornitholestes belongs in the same family as Compsognathus.
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