Palaeopteryx (meaning "ancient wing") is an extinct genus of dubious paravian theropod dinosaur from the Morrison Formation of Colorado.

[1] The holotype, BYU 2022, was collected sometime between 1972 and 1976 by a paleontological expedition from Brigham Young University directed by James A. Jensen in the "Dry Mesa" quarry on the Uncompahgre Upwarp in western Colorado (Brushy Basin Member, Morrison Formation).

One notable specimen found alongside the holotype of Palaeopteryx is the right femur of a derived maniraptoran theropod (BYU 2023).

BYU 2023 shows apomorphies known only in advanced maniraptorans, including Microvenator, Microraptor, and Archaeopteryx.

[2] Palaeopteryx has been the subject of much confusion on the internet, in the popular scientific press, and among creationist writers.