Coelophysis is likely the most well-known triassic dinosaur, mainly from its appearance in 'Walking with Dinosaurs', but also because of mass fossil finds that suggest Coelophysis was a pack animal. The mass grave at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico consisted of dozens of scrambled Coelophysis skeletons, with some suggesting that in harsh times Coelophysis would turn to cannabalism. Paleontologists that have worked on the site think that the animals died due to a drought where their water hole dried up.

Coelophysis gives name to the Coelophysids, an early group of theropods that was long thought to include Procompsognathus, though that classification is now in question. The Coelophysids' basic design is that of a fast-moving biped, the body streamlined & the bones light & hollow of which Coelophysis was named, meaning hollow form. In 1998 a Coelophysis skull was transported to the Mir space station to see any effects that might occur, & became the first fossilized remains in space.