Allosauroidae facts for kids

Allosauroids were a super cool group of meat-eating dinosaurs. They were known for their long, narrow heads, big eyes, and often had bony bumps or "horns" above their eyes. These powerful hunters walked on two legs and had strong, three-fingered hands. The most famous Allosauroid is probably Allosaurus, a well-known predator from the Jurassic period.

This picture shows how different Allosauroids are related to each other.

What are Allosauroids?

Allosauroids belong to a larger group of dinosaurs called theropods. Theropods were mostly meat-eaters, and they all walked on two legs. Allosauroids were a special family within this group. Scientists use the term "clade" to describe a group of animals that all share a common ancestor. So, Allosauroids are a clade of theropod dinosaurs.

Key Features of Allosauroids

These dinosaurs had several features that made them stand out:

• Long, narrow skulls: Their heads were built for powerful bites.
• Large eyes: They likely had excellent eyesight, which helped them hunt.
• Three-fingered hands: Their hands were strong and ended in sharp claws, perfect for grabbing prey.
• Head ornaments: Many Allosauroids had unique crests or "horns" on their heads. These might have been used for showing off to other dinosaurs or for fighting.

When and Where Allosauroids Lived

The first Allosauroids appeared a very long time ago, during the Middle Jurassic period. This was about 170 million years ago! The oldest known Allosauroid is Shidaisaurus, found in China.

These dinosaurs lived for many millions of years. They were found all over the world, including Asia, North America, and South America. The last known Allosauroids died out around 93 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period. Some of the last ones included Shaochilong from Asia and Mapusaurus from South America.

Famous Allosauroids

While many Allosauroids have been discovered, a few are especially well-known:

• Allosaurus: This is perhaps the most famous member of the group. Allosaurus was a top predator in North America during the Late Jurassic period. It could grow up to 39 feet (12 meters) long! Many fossils of Allosaurus have been found, helping us learn a lot about these amazing dinosaurs.
• Mapusaurus: This giant Allosauroid lived in South America during the Late Cretaceous. It was one of the largest meat-eating dinosaurs ever, possibly even bigger than Allosaurus. Scientists believe Mapusaurus might have hunted in groups, which would have made them even more dangerous.
• Shaochilong: This Allosauroid was found in China and lived during the Late Cretaceous. It shows that Allosauroids continued to thrive in different parts of the world even as other dinosaur groups became more common.