Coeluridae

Tanycolagreus topwilsoni, live reconstruction

• North America

Coeluridae is the name of a family of small, carnivorous dinosaurs. She was widespread in the Upper Jurassic in North America.

The species of the family were small to medium sized Hunter ( 1-2 m long), which were quite nimble through the long hind legs and slim physique. The grasping hands had three fingers with sharp claws, the hind legs were also three main toes. The only genera are Coelurus and Tanycolagreus.

Classification

For a long time were all dinosaurs of the suborder Theropoda, which could not be assigned to more specific family, grouped in the family of Coeluriden, so that a broad family not very related genera revealed. Some species that were in the past associated with the wrong family, for example, the Stenonychosaurus (now in the family Troodontidae ) and the Microvenator, which is assigned to the Oviraptoridae today.

The system shown here is from Phil Senter, from 2007, he assumes that it is a monophyletic taxon, ie a natural kinship group is.

Genera

• Coelurus
• Tanycolagreus