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Not to be confused with Camptosaurus.
Temporal range: Late Triassic, 220Ma
Camposaurus arizonensis.png
Reconstruction based on holotype specimen, with unknown elements after Coelophysis.
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Suborder: Theropoda
Family: Coelophysidae
Subfamily: Coelophysinae
Genus: Camposaurus
Hunt et al., 1998
Type species
Camposaurus arizonensis
Hunt et al., 1998

Camposaurus (/kæmpsɒrʌs/ "CAMP-oh-SORE-us"; meaning "Charles Lewis Camp's lizard") is a coelophysoid dinosaur genus from the Norian stage of the Late Triassic period of North America. The pertinent fossil remains date back to the early to middle Norian stage, and is widely regarded as the oldest known neotheropod.


Camposaurus is a small, carnivorous, theropod dinosaur. Its approximate length and weight cannot be reliably estimated because of the sparse material that is known from this genus. Camposaurus is known from partial lower leg bones, holotype UCMP 34498 (which includes distal tibiae, distal fibulae, and astragalocalcanea), and other fragmentary material. Like other coelophysids, it has fused tibio-tarsals and fibulo-tarsals. Unlike its relatives, the area of the tibia that fits with the fibula has a distinct ridge at the back. Another unique feature is the lack of a large medial condyle on the astragalus.[1] The type species, C. arizonensis, was formally named and described by Adrian Hunt, Spencer G. Lucas, Andrew B. Heckert, Robert Sullivan and Martin Lockley in 1998.[2] As the species name suggests, it was found in Arizona, in the United States.


The holotype specimen UCMP 34498 was discovered in the Placerias quarry of the Bluewater Creek Formation of Arizona, from the Norian stage of the Late Triassic period.


Camposaurus is considered to be the oldest known neotheropod dinosaur. Camposaurus was originally placed in the clade Ceratosauria based on the analysis of Long and Murray (1995).[3] It is morphologically similar to, and was incorrectly considered for some time to be a species of, Coelophysis. In 2000, Downs examined Camposaurus and concluded that it is a junior synonym of Coelophysis, because of its similarity to some of the Coelophysis Ghost Ranch specimens.[4] The review by Nesbitt et al. in 2007, revealed that a specific feature of the ankle (the ventral astragalar margin) was found to be straight, and is indistinguishable from that of Coelophysis bauri. Based on this Nesbitt et al., concluded that the two genera were synonymous.[5] In 2011, it was entered into a phylogenetic analysis and found to be a close relative of Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis (considered to be a species of Coelophysis in the analysis).[1] The lack of material has led many paleontologists to reject it as a nomen dubium.[1][6] A reassessment of the holotype UCMP 34498 of Camposaurus arizoniensis by Ezcurra and Brusatte revealed two autapomorphies, thereby firmly establishing this material as a valid genus and species. This analysis also demonstrated that Camposaurus is definitely a neotheropod, and based on phylogenetic analysis its closest known relative is Megapnosaurus rhodensis, because they share similarities in the tibia, and ankle.[1] Spielman et al. (2007) assigned Camposaurus to the family Coelophysidae.[7]

Distinguishing anatomical features[edit]


According to Ezcurra and Brusatte (2011), Camposaurus can be distinguished based on the following features:[1]

  • the caudal ridge of the tibia articular surface on the fibula is prominent, taking the form of a sharp longitudinal ridge, the medial surface having a strongly developed, rostrally bowed, diagonal tuberosity
  • the astragalus is without a strong cranial projection of the medial condyle of the astragalar body, resulting in a sub-rectangular astragalar body in the distal aspect, and a ventral margin that is incipiently concave in the cranial aspect


  1. ^ a b c d e Ezcurra, M.D.; Brusatte, S.L. (2011). "Taxonomic and phylogenetic reassessment of the early neotheropod dinosaur Camposaurus arizonensis from the Late Triassic of North America". Palaeontology 54 (4): 763–772. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2011.01069.x. 
  2. ^ A.P. Hunt, S.G. Lucas, A.B. Heckert, R.M. Sullivan and M.G. Lockley, 1998, "Late Triassic dinosaurs from the western United States", Géobios 31(4): 511-531
  3. ^ Long and Murray, 1995. Late Triassic (Carnian and Norian) tetrapods from the Southwestern United States. New Mexico Museum Nat. History Sci. Bull. 4, 1-254.
  4. ^ Downs, 2000. Coelophysis bauri and Syntarsus rhodesiensis compared, with comments on the preparation and preservation of fossils from the Ghost Ranch Coelophysis quarry. in Lucas and Heckert (eds.), 2000. Dinosaurs of New Mexico. NMMNH Bulletin 17. 33-37.
  5. ^ Nesbitt, Irmis and Parker, 2007. A critical re-evaluation of the Late Triassic dinosaur taxa of North America. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 5(2), 209–243.
  6. ^ R. B. Irmis. 2005. The vertebrate fauna of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation in northern Arizona. In S. J. Nesbitt, W. G. Parker, & R. B. Irmis (eds.), Guidebook to the Triassic Formations of the Colorado Plateau in Northern Arizona: Geology, Paleontology, and History. Mesa Southwest Museum Bulletin 9:63-88
  7. ^ J. A. Spielmann, S. G. Lucas, L. F. Rinehart, A. P. Hunt, A. B. Heckert and R. M. Sullivan. 2007. Oldest records of the Late Triassic theropod dinosaur Coelophysis bauri. In S. G. Lucas & J. A. Spielmann (eds.), The Global Triassic. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 41:384-401