One of the smallest known dinosaurs, the turkey-sized Compsognathus had a skeleton similar to the earliest birds, with slender legs, hollow bones and birdlike feet.

Compsognathus was a fast dinosaur, perhaps reaching speeds of 40 miles per hour. A long neck and tail helped it keep balanced at high velocities, and its quick reflexes and keen eyesight enabled it to catch animals like lizards, insects and small mammals.