Tetanurae

Skeletal reconstruction of Allosaurus, a spätjurassischer Tetanure from North America

  • Worldwide

The Tetanurae ( " rigid tails" ) are a taxon (a natural kinship group ), composed of the most theropod dinosaurs. Tetanuren first appear in the Lower Jurassic fossil in appearance, one of their groups, the birds, has survived to the present day.

Belonging to this group dinosaurs had three cloves ( tridaktyler feet). Another diagnostic feature is the extension of the hand.

System

Spinosauroidea

→ Main article: Spinosauroidea

The Spinosauroidea is formed by the two families Megalosauridae and Spinosauridae. Particular features of the skull and humerus raise this group from other genera of the Tetanurae. The living in the Jura for the most part Megalosauriden were massively built, while often found in rocks of the Cretaceous skeletons of Spinosauriden spinous processes have on the vertebrae.

Carnosauria

→ Main article: Carnosauria

The Carnosauria is composed of various types and groups of dinosaurs. For example, it includes the Allosauroidea which in turn is composed of the Sinraptoridae, Allosauridae and Carcharodontosauridae. While the famous Allosaurus from the Late Jurassic is in the Allosauridae include some of the largest theropods such as the Giganotosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus or Mapusaurus to Carcharodontosauridae.

Tyrannosauroidea

→ Main article: Tyrannosauroidea

From the two families Tyrannosauridae and Proceratosauridae and other genera the superfamily Tyrannosauroidea is formed. The Tyrannosauridae is formed by several, sometimes extremely large theropods such as Tyrannosaurus, Tarbosaurus, Albertosaurus or Daspletosaurus. On the other hand, there is the little-known taxa Proceratosauridae from the two genera Proceratosaurus and guanlong.

The Tyrannosauroideen dived with rather small body dimensions to 168 million years ago and disappeared with the rest of the dinosaurs (except birds) 65 million years ago.

Ornithomimosauria

→ Main article: Ornithomimosauria

In general, the ligand is located in the Ornithomimosauria dinosaur with the appearance of ostriches can be compared. They had on their relatively long neck a rather small head and strong legs and were easily built. Up to early representatives of Ornithomimosauria they were toothless. The best-known members of this group are the three Ornithomimiden Ornithomimus, Gallimimus and Struthiomimus. All three lived in the Late Cretaceous until 66 million years ago.

Therizinosauroidea

→ Main article: Therizinosauroidea

Genera which are counted for Therizinosauroidea were recovered in rocks of North America and Asia and come from between 130 and 66 million years old layers. Your body is highly unusual for theropod dinosaurs. Most typical characteristic of this group are extremely strong claws of the forelimbs. In addition, these dinosaurs possessed a long neck and then a small skull sat. What is she is nourished themselves paleontologists controversial. An assumption assumes that they were herbivores ( plant eaters ).

Oviraptorosauria

→ Main article: Oviraptorosauria

The Oviraptorosauria includes the Oviraptor one of the most famous dinosaurs of Asia, fossils of other Oviraptorosaurier are related according to the Oviraptor were not only in Asia but also in North America discovered. The size of the different genera belonging to this group varies widely. The smallest such Caudipteryx were not longer than one meter, the largest could reach eight times the length of Caudipteryx in this regard would be gigantoraptor mentioned.

Troodontidae

→ Main article: Troodontidae

The companies belonging to Troodontidae genera are the size of the brain volume, the smartest of all dinosaurs (except the bird - dinosaur ). Another feature is the very large eyes with which the troodontids could see spatially, as they were still directed forward. The most famous is Troodontidae Troodon. Like all other troodontids also he possessed a sickle claw on each foot. In relation to food, it is assumed that the little dinosaur insects or other small animals and eggs malnourished.

Dromaeosauridae

→ Main article: Dromaeosauridae

The Dromaeosauridae is represented by many genera whose fossils were found in almost all parts of the world. All of them had two significant sickle claws on their feet. Regarding the size existed both small and rather large genera within the Dromaeosauridae. Among the most famous representatives include the Velociraptor and the Dromaeosaurus. Also of about three meters long Deinonychus can be described as popular.

The first Dromaeosauriden occurred in the Middle Jurassic 168 million years ago and disappeared 66 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous.

Swell

  • Reinhard Rieger, Wilfried West Heath (ed.): vertebral or cranial animals. Fischer, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-8274-0900-4 ( Systematic Zoology. Part 2).
  • David Weishampel, Peter Dodson, Halszka Osmólska (eds.): The Dinosauria. University of California Press, Berkeley, 2004, ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  • Theropods
  • Theropods
Mya (unit) Ornithodira Jacques Gauthier Avetheropoda Suchomimus Genus Metriacanthosauridae Ornithomimidae Beipiaosaurus Utahraptor
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