Deviation Actions
Description
Reconstruction of coelophysid Coelophysis bauri from the late Triassic of New Mexico and Arizona.
This is my first work of this summer and the second reconstruction of this species. 
I did not like some details of the first version, including quite significant, as the proportions. I hope there are no serious mistakes in this case.
Coelophysis is one of the most famous genera of early dinosaurs. In addition to the depicted species, now it also includes the early Jurassic C. rhodesiensis and C. kayentakatae (?). Specifically C. bauri is known for a huge number of individuals, which allowed to study even the individual variability (which was very pronounced). Compared to more primitive taxa like Herrerasaurus, Coelophysis already has many features typical for more developed theropods. Judging by long jaw with small teeth and flexible, but weak hands, it was a hunter mainly on small and swift animals. Assumptions about gregariousness does not yet have sufficient weight, as the founded groups of skeletons may belong to only temporary "flocks" or animals who died in natural disasters.
Two morphs of Coelophysis, robust and gracile are often described. Traditionally, they were considered to be related to the sex of animals. However, recently it was found that some young individuals are larger than adults, which shows a very different individual growth rate.
Assumptions about cannibalism also do not have direct evidence - in some cases "Coelophysis hatchlings" appeared early crocodylomorph Hesperosuchus, in other cases the reason was taphonomically factors. Personally, I believe that, since cannibalism is very common among predators, this topic is hardly worth raising.
This reconstruction shows Coelophysis with a hypothetical integument of filamentous structures retaining heat. Part of the tail is depicted scaly with scutes, the largest of which are overlapping. The muzzle shows dense keratin, although with a texture different from the one I used to draw theropods in recent years. All these details, especially the "coat" and the tail scutes are purely speculative, we have absolutely no data on the integument of early dinosaurs. Commonly used phylogenetic bracketing supports fully scaly reconstruction, but this method is not always reliable, examples of which have already been (the best known is the case of tyrannosaurids). The reality could be much more complex than we imagine. Anatomy, physiology, size and climate affect the distribution and density of the insulating covers, however in this case, these factors do not exclude the presence of the above details. But, anyway, I don't mind scaly Coelophysis. What I have depicted is my aesthetic representation. 
Black ink pen, 2018.
