On the Procompsognathus postcranium (Late Triassic, Germany)

A review of the historical background of the material housed in the Staatliches Museum fur Naturkunde (Stuttgart) and ascribed to Procompsognathus triassicus (Upper Triassic, Germany) is provided. The systematic position of the postcranial remains is discussed. The combined results of cladistic analyses suggest. that the type material, ail incomplete postcranial skeleton in two pieces (SMNS 12591), is from a theropod close to Segisaurus and Coelophysis. An isolated mantis (SMNS 12352a) is definitely not theropodan, but could be from any small basal archosaur. The remarkable diversity of the carnivorous guild that dwelled in southern Germany before the end-Triassic events is underlined. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.