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Metriacanthosaurids facts for kids

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Metriacanthosaurids
Temporal range: Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, 175.6–135Ma
Sinraptor dongi.jpg
Sinraptor dongi, Royal Tyrrell Museum
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Infraorder: Carnosauria
Superfamily: Allosauroidea
Family: Metriacanthosauridae
Paul, 1988
Type species
Megalosaurus parkeri
Huene, 1923
Subgroups
Synonyms
  • Sinraptoridae Currie & Zhao, 1993

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


Metriacanthosaurus



Sinraptor



unnamed

Poekilopleuron



Lourinhanosaurus





Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Metriacantosáuridos para niños

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