Megalosaurids facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Megalosaurids Temporal range: Middle - Late Jurassic, 170–148Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Possible Berriasian-Valanginian record
Skeletal mount of Torvosaurus tanneri, Museum of Ancient Life
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Dinosauria
Clade:	Saurischia
Clade:	Theropoda
Clade:	†Megalosauria
Family:	†Megalosauridae Huxley, 1869
Type species
†Megalosaurus bucklandii Mantell, 1827
Subgroups
†Megalosaurinae †Megalosaurus †Torvosaurus †Duriavenator †Wiehenvenator †Eustreptospondylinae †Eustreptospondylus †Afrovenatorinae †Streptospondylus? †Afrovenator †Dubreuillosaurus †Leshansaurus †Magnosaurus †Piveteausaurus †Poekilopleuron?
Synonyms
Torvosauridae Jensen, 1985 Eustreptospondylidae Paul, 1988 Streptospondylidae Kurzanov, 1989

Megalosaurids were a family of large, meat-eating dinosaurs called theropods. They lived during the Middle Jurassic and Late Jurassic periods, about 170 to 148 million years ago. These powerful predators were some of the first big groups of large theropod dinosaurs to appear and spread across the ancient world.

They are closely related to another famous dinosaur family, the Spinosauridae, which includes dinosaurs like Spinosaurus. Some well-known Megalosaurids include Megalosaurus, Torvosaurus, Eustreptospondylus, and Afrovenator. Even though they were very successful for a while, Megalosaurids eventually died out by the end of the Jurassic period.

What are Megalosaurids?

Megalosaurids were a group of carnivorous (meat-eating) dinosaurs. They belonged to a larger group of dinosaurs called tetanurans. This means they were an early, or "primitive," branch of this bigger family.

These dinosaurs were known for their strong bodies and sharp teeth. They were built for hunting other dinosaurs. Scientists have found their fossils in different parts of the world, showing they were widespread.

Key Features

Megalosaurids had several features that helped them hunt. They had:

• Strong jaws with sharp, serrated teeth for tearing meat.
• Powerful legs for running and chasing prey.
• Relatively short but strong arms with sharp claws.
• A large head compared to their body size.

One of the most famous Megalosaurids is Megalosaurus itself. It was one of the first dinosaurs ever described by scientists.

Where and When They Lived

Megalosaurids first appeared in the Middle Jurassic period. They were a dominant group of predators throughout the Middle and Late Jurassic. Their fossils have been found in places that are now Europe, Africa, and North America. This shows that they lived on several different continents when the Earth's landmasses were arranged differently.

For example:

• Megalosaurus lived in what is now England.
• Torvosaurus has been found in North America and Portugal.
• Afrovenator lived in Africa.

By the end of the Jurassic period, around 145 million years ago, Megalosaurids became extinct. Other groups of large theropods, like the allosaurids, became more common after them.

Megalosaurid Subgroups

Scientists divide the Megalosaurid family into smaller groups called subfamilies. The two main subfamilies are Megalosaurinae and Afrovenatorinae.

Megalosaurinae

This group includes some of the most well-known Megalosaurids. Dinosaurs in this subfamily often had very robust (strong and heavily built) bodies.

• Megalosaurus: The dinosaur that gave the family its name. It was a large predator from England.
• Torvosaurus: One of the largest known Megalosaurids, reaching lengths of up to 10 meters (33 feet). It was a top predator in its environment.
• Wiehenvenator: Another large Megalosaurid found in Germany.

Afrovenatorinae

This subfamily includes dinosaurs mostly found in Africa, as its name suggests.

• Afrovenator: A medium-sized theropod found in Niger, Africa. Its name means "African hunter."
• Dubreuillosaurus: A smaller Megalosaurid found in France, known from a nearly complete skeleton.

Eustreptospondylus

The dinosaur Eustreptospondylus is a bit special. It's considered a Megalosaurid, but its exact place within the subfamilies is still being studied by paleontologists. It was found in England and was a medium-sized predator.

Images for kids

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  Megalosaurid skulls. Clockwise from top left: Dubreuillosaurus, Torvosaurus, Afrovenator, Megalosaurus, Eustreptospondylus

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  Tooth from Megalosaurus

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  Megalosaurus femur (thigh bone)

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  A reconstruction of Torvosaurus tanneri

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  Wiehenvenator, a typical megalosaurine

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  Megalosaurid trackways (fossilized footprints) from Vale de Meios, Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park

See also

In Spanish: Megalosáuridos para niños