Xunmenglong (from Chinese: 迅猛龍/迅猛龙; pinyin: Xùnměnglóng; lit. 'swift fierce dragon') is a genus of compsognathid theropod dinosaur from the Huajiying Formation from Hebei Province in China. The type and only species is Xunmenglong yinliangis. The holotype material consists of a pelvis, tail base and hindlimbs that had previously been part of a chimera containing three different animals. The animal is described as being the smallest known member of Compsognathidae, being about the size of the sub-adult Scipionyx holotype specimen or approximately 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) in length.[1]
| Xunmenglong | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reconstructed skeleton | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Family: | †Compsognathidae |
| Genus: | †Xunmenglong Xing et al., 2019 |
| Type species | |
| †Xunmenglong yinliangis Xing et al., 2019 | |
Classification
In the original description, Xunmenglong is recovered as a Compsognathid in a polyomy including Compsognathus, Huaxiagnathus, and Juravenator. However, Andrea Cau (2024) recovered Xunmenglong not as a Compsognathid, but instead as a basal member of Tetanurae.[2]
