Metriacanthosaurids facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Metriacanthosaurids |
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| Sinraptor dongi, Royal Tyrrell Museum | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Clade: | Saurischia |
| Clade: | Theropoda |
| Infraorder: | †Carnosauria |
| Superfamily: | †Allosauroidea |
| Family: | †Metriacanthosauridae Paul, 1988 |
| Type species | |
| †Megalosaurus parkeri Huene, 1923
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Metriacanthosaurids were a group of meat-eating dinosaurs. They belonged to a family of theropods. These dinosaurs were often very large predators. Some could grow up to 10 meters (30 feet) long!
Metriacanthosaurids are a type of carnosaur. At first, scientists thought they were part of the Megalosauridae or Allosauridae families. But now, they have their own special family. In 2008, a huge tooth was found. It might have come from a giant metriacanthosaurid.
What are Metriacanthosaurids?
Metriacanthosauridae is a group of dinosaurs that all share a common ancestor. This means they are closely related. Scientists use a method called cladistics to figure out these relationships.
The group includes dinosaurs like Metriacanthosaurus parkeri. It also includes other species that are more closely related to Metriacanthosaurus than to Allosaurus fragilis, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus, or even to birds. These theropods are very close to the ancestors of the allosaurs.
Sometimes, you might hear this group called "Sinraptoridae". However, Metriacanthosauridae is the correct scientific name. This is because Metriacanthosaurus was the first dinosaur from this family to be officially described and named. This follows the rules of the ICZN, which is like a rulebook for naming animals.
This diagram shows how some of these dinosaurs are related:
| Metriacanthosauridae |
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Images for kids
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Life restoration of Yangchuanosaurus shangyouensis
See also
In Spanish: Metriacantosáuridos para niños
