| This dinosaur is one of the earliest known animals, dating back to perhaps 216 million years ago. It's called Coelophysis. Their remains can be found scattered across the globe, but if people want to see a Coelophysis up close, this is the only place to do it! |
Coelophysis is a genus of coelophysid dinosaur in Jurassic World Evolution 2. Originating from Late Triassic Africa and North America, it is one of the first known dinosaurs to have existed.
Characteristics
Among the earliest dinosaurs to have walked the earth, Coelophysis was a small theropod dinosaur that thrived approximately 190 to 225 million years ago in what is now Africa and North America. With a length of about three meters and a weight ranging from 18 to 23 kilograms, its name translates to "Hollow Form" in reference to its hollow leg bones, which allow it to reach speeds of up to 25mph thanks to its light frame. It boasted a slender and agile build, embodying the characteristics of a nimble predator.[1]
Gameplay
Behaviour
Coelophysis display a relatively calm demeanor as a dinosaur species. With the provision of ample open spaces, water sources, a limited forested area, and the company of their own pack, they can flourish within their enclosure.[1] Despite their sociable nature, Coelophysis are not inclined towards pack hunting, although they prefer to live in groups. Their smaller size renders them susceptible to predatory dinosaurs, yet they can coexist harmoniously with larger herbivorous species since they lack the capacity to hunt most dinosaurs.[1]
Paleontology
Coelophysis was discovered in 1881 by amateur dinosaur enthusiast David Baldwin in New Mexico, although it wasn't officially named until it was studied by expert Edward Drinker Cope in 1889. The first fossils found were of very poor quality, and it wasn't until 1947 that Coelophysis was fully understood, when a large number of bones were found near to the original discovery site.
The name Coelophysis finds its roots in Greek, translating to "Hollow Form", a nod to the dinosaur's hollow limbs. Emerging during the Late Triassic period, a time when dinosaurs had yet to ascend to top of the food chain, Coelophysis probably relied on its speed and agility to evade larger predators and deftly capture its prey, exemplifying the survival strategies of its era.[1] This, along with its size at 2.4 to 3.1 m (7 to 10 ft) long and 15 to 25 kg (33 to 55 lb) in weight, made it more adaptable than most animals of its time.
Paleoecology
One of the very first species of dinosaurs to exist, Coelophysis inhabited the Late Triassic landscape of Pangaea, characterized by arid conditions and diverse ecosystems, around 235 to 208 million years ago. Its swift movement on land aided its predatory lifestyle, likely focused on insects, amphibians, and small reptiles. Its fossils have been found across the world, from North America to the South of Africa and China. Coelophysis shared this environment with other several other early dinosaurs (such as Daemonosaurus, Liliensternus, Herrerasaurus, Eoraptor, Plateosaurus, Thecodontosaurus, Riojasaurus, Pisanosaurus, etc.) alongside primitive pterosaurs (i.e. Peteinosaurus), early crocodilian relatives, and various ancient reptiles (Postosuchus, Placerias, Rutiodon, Dasmatosuchus, Fasolasuchus, and so on) as well as small synapsid cynodonts (like Thrinaxodon) in dry environments, feeding on small crocodiles and insects as well as scavenging on the carcasses of other dinosaurs. Fossil evidence hints at possible social behavior.
Available genomes
| Fossil icon | Dig site | Quality | Number available |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Ghost Ranch | ā
ā ā ā ā ā |
4 3 3 |
Behind the scenes
Coelophysis was one of the first dinosaurs confirmed to be in Evolution 2, appearing in the game's announcement trailer on June 11th, 2021. It later received a Species Field Guide on June 25th, 2021, as well as a short article exploring the species on the official Frontier forums.[1]
Gallery
References
External link
- Coelophysis on Wikipedia
