- « "The thin, lime coloured crest on its head opening and closing like a Chinese fan, his long green body swaying from side to side as his transparent wings stuck firmely on his sides." »
- — Description[src]
Coelurosauravus were small, lizard-like diapsid reptiles, native to the Permian period which resembled green iguanas or other modern day lizards. It had specialised wing-like structures allowing it to glide, similarly to the modern day Flying Dragon from South-east Asia.
Characteristics[]
Coelurosauravus were approximately the same size as a human arm but slightly larger, with a long, streamlined body resembling that of some modern lizards. Coelurosauravus' body possessed two large, wing-like structures, which allowed it to achieve powered flight and gliding around its environment in the air. Due to the arid Permian climate of their home time, Coelurosauravus would be unused to the modern day's cooler, seasonal climate and preferred high temperatures, and were dangerously vulnerable to freezing temperatures.
Coelurosauravus appeared to live in small flocks together in their home time, although some of them could be more solitary or stray off. They also communicated with varying chirping vocalisations, and they apparently had an unusually long memory span for reptiles (over a year at least). Despite Coelurosauravus being cold-blooded reptiles, at least one, Rex, was shown to be unusually active, intelligent and curious; although it is unknown if this is a common characteristic for Coelurosauravus or if Rex's behaviour was atypical.
Known Coelurosauravus[]
- Rex - A Coelurosauravus who came through an Anomaly from his Permian habitat to the Forest of Dean in 2006/2007, and was briefly kept by Ben Trent before passing on into Abby Maitland' care at her flat. (Episode 1.1) Rex remained in Abby's care for four years, (Episode 4.1) before being placed in the Anomaly Research Centre's creature menagerie during Abby's one-year disappearance. (Episode 4.2 onwards)
- A flock of Coelurosauravus were seen flying in the Permian by Ben Trent through the Forest of Dean Anomaly that Rex came from. (Episode 1.1)
Real life[]
Coelurosauravus (name meaning "Hollow lizard grandfather") was a basal diapsid reptile genus, which was 30-50 cm in length approx. It lived in what is now Madagascar, England and Germany, during the Upper Permian period. Coelurosauravus possessed wing-like structures (dermal bones with skin stretched over them) and a long and flat body, allowing it to glide.
Appearances[]
Canonical[]
- Episode 1.1 (first appearance)
- Episode 1.2
- Episode 1.4
- Episode 1.5
- Episode 1.6
- Episode 2.2
- Episode 2.3 (picture)
- Episode 2.4
- Episode 2.5
- Episode 2.6
- Episode 2.7
- Episode 3.1
- Episode 3.6
- Episode 3.7 (mentioned, picture)
- Episode 3.8
- Episode 3.9
- Episode 4.2
- Episode 4.3
- Episode 4.4
- Episode 5.4 (latest appearance)
Non-Canonical[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Coelurosauravus is the first creature to be given a name, and one of the few creatures to actually be given one.
- This is the only creature to appear in all five series of the original Primeval show.
- As the series continues Rex's wings become more dragon/bat like, starting as rounded sails and then progressing into folding wings similar to a bat's.
- Some fans have suggested that they change as he gets older. However this may be attributed to the fact that Rex got a new higher-detailed CGI model rendered in Series 3, and the new visual effects company who animated him differently in Series 4.
- A flock of Coelurosauravus were featured on the Series 1 and Series 2 title sequences.
Errors[]
- Coelurosauravus portrayed in Primeval had many differences to the real world Coelurosauravus. These include:
- They were only capable of gliding, but the ones in the show were capable of powered flight.
- They had a distinctive bony frill around their necks, whereas the ones in the show have more rounded smooth heads. Also, the crest on Coelurosauravus' heads is speculated.
- Rex seems to be far more intelligent and active than a primitive reptile would probably have been. However, Rex could just be an unusual specimen.
- It is depicted as being much larger than the real animal, which was only about as long as a human hand.
- Rex is often shown being fed plant and fruit matter, but Coelurosauravus was probably an insectivore.
Episode 1.1: Gorgonopsid • Coelurosauravus • Scutosaurus |
Episode 1.4: Dodo • Parasite • Coelurosauravus |
Episode 2.1: Raptor |
Episode 2.5: Silurian Scorpion • Coelurosauravus • Silurian Millipede |
Episode 3.1: Pristichampsus • Future Predator • Small Future Bird • Coelurosauravus • Clone |
Episode 3.7: Dracorex • Coelurosauravus |
Episode 4.1: Dracorex • Spinosaurus • Raptor |
Episode 4.4: Therocephalian • Coelurosauravus • Columbian Mammoth |