Metriacanthosauridae
family of reptiles (fossil) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
family of reptiles (fossil) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Metriacanthosaurids were a family of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs. They tended to be large predators, and some were 30 ft (10 m) long.
| Metriacanthosauridae Temporal range: Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, | |
|---|---|
| |
| Sinraptor dongi, Royal Tyrrell Museum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Infraorder: | †Carnosauria |
| Superfamily: | †Allosauroidea |
| Family: | †Metriacanthosauridae Paul, 1988 |
| Type species | |
| †Megalosaurus parkeri Huene, 1923 | |
| Subgroups | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Metriacanthosaurids are carnosaurs. At first they were classified in the Megalosauridae or Allosauridae, now they are put in their own family. A gigantic tooth, which may come from a giant metriacanthosaurid, was described recently (2008).[1]
The Metriacanthosauridae is a monophyletic group. Cladistically it includes Metriacanthosaurus parkeri and species closer related to Metriacanthosaurus than to Allosaurus fragilis, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus, or to birds. These theropods are close to the ancestors of the allosaurs.
Metriacanthosauridae is often referred to as "Sinraptoridae", but Metriacanthosauridae is the correct name under ICZN rules, since Metriacanthosaurus was the first member of the family to be described and named.
The cladogram here follows a study by Benson and colleagues.[2]
| Metriacanthosauridae |
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