When we think of the size of Compsognathus we often see it claimed to be 1 meter (3.3 feet) long, or we think back to the smaller chicken-sized dinosaurs of the movies. Now of course Frontier games does not include some of the smaller dinosaurs currently because of issues with size.
However what if I told you this size estimate is false and appears to be based on an earlier conception of Compsognathus that is now known to be false, but apparently has become an internet truism? Well the basis for this apparently popular misconception comes from the history of Compsognathus in paleontology.
Compsognathus longipes was the original and thus type species of Compsognathus and was 89 cm or about 3 feet. Another specimen found in France then named Compsognathus correlestris was 125 cm or 49 inches or just over 4 feet. These two species were seen as separate however until it was discovered that Compsognathus correlestris was simply an adult version of Compsognathus longipes.
Meaning there is only Compsognathus longipes and it is actually 4 feet long rather than 3 feet, both sizes of which, though still small, are substantially larger than the compies as we saw them in The Lost World. The in-game Troodon is a little less than twice as big.
This being the case, given that Frontier has not at least yet included Compsognathus due to size issues, yet it turns out that Compsognathus is actually larger than most people think, does this change the debate as to whether Compsognathus should be included in the game? I'd like to see your thoughts below and hopefully attract Frontier's attention to this interesting and potentially game-changing fact.
Here is a photoshopped comparison of an in game Troodon with a Compsognathus at its actual scientifically accurate scale for people to see how this could change the debate.
However what if I told you this size estimate is false and appears to be based on an earlier conception of Compsognathus that is now known to be false, but apparently has become an internet truism? Well the basis for this apparently popular misconception comes from the history of Compsognathus in paleontology.
Compsognathus longipes was the original and thus type species of Compsognathus and was 89 cm or about 3 feet. Another specimen found in France then named Compsognathus correlestris was 125 cm or 49 inches or just over 4 feet. These two species were seen as separate however until it was discovered that Compsognathus correlestris was simply an adult version of Compsognathus longipes.
Meaning there is only Compsognathus longipes and it is actually 4 feet long rather than 3 feet, both sizes of which, though still small, are substantially larger than the compies as we saw them in The Lost World. The in-game Troodon is a little less than twice as big.
This being the case, given that Frontier has not at least yet included Compsognathus due to size issues, yet it turns out that Compsognathus is actually larger than most people think, does this change the debate as to whether Compsognathus should be included in the game? I'd like to see your thoughts below and hopefully attract Frontier's attention to this interesting and potentially game-changing fact.
Here is a photoshopped comparison of an in game Troodon with a Compsognathus at its actual scientifically accurate scale for people to see how this could change the debate.
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