The Jurassic's nimble little hunter — quick enough to chase a bird!
At less than seven feet long, Ornitholestes was the smallest meat-eating dinosaur that prowled through the vegetation of the Jurassic period. Like other small, agile predators, Ornitholestes probably ate anything it could catch in its three-fingered hands—insects, frogs, lizards, reptile and bird eggs, and even baby dinosaurs!
Ornitholestes means "bird robber." This speedy little meat-eater is often depicted in pursuit of Archaeopteryx, thought by many to be the first bird. But Ornitholestes is known from western North America, Archaeopteryx from Europe. That's a long chase!
Source: Microsoft Dinosaurs (1993) CD-ROM. Text liberated from original screen art; images & audio restored from disc. Original media is Microsoft/supplier copyright — non-commercial educational preservation. Credits & Acknowledgements