Pterospondylus

Pterospondylus Temporal range: Late Triassic, 216 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Back vertebra in several views
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Dinosauria
Order:	Saurischia
Suborder:	Theropoda
Family:	†Coelophysidae
Genus:	†Pterospondylus Jaekel, 1913
Species:	†P. trielbae
Binomial name
Pterospondylus trielbae Jaekel, 1913

Pterospondylus (meaning "winged vertebra") is a dubious genus of theropod dinosaur from the Late Triassic. It was a coelophysoid theropod which lived in what is now Germany (Trossingen Formation). The type species, Pterospondylus trielbae, was described by Jaekel in 1913-14 for a single back vertebra. Sometimes, it is aligned with Procompsognathus, or even considered to be synonymous with it, despite being based on a vertebra that is twice the size of the corresponding bone in Procompsognathus.

The specific name trielbae is derived from "Tri", in reference to the Triassic period, and "Elba", which points to the Elbe River area.