archosaur
Dinosaur's taxonomic group
An archosaur is a member of a group of reptiles that includes dinosaurs, pterosaurs, crocodilians, and birds.
The group dominated land ecosystems during the Mesozoic Era.
Modern archosaurs are crocodiles, alligators, and birds—the only surviving lineages: Birds are technically archosaurs, the last living dinosaurs.
Large semiaquatic tropical reptile
- alligatorLarge American swamp reptile
- caimanNeotropical crocodilian species
- birdFeathered flying vertebrate
- avianOf or concerning birds
extant · descendant · modern · surviving · lineage · evolutionary · related · emu
First Mesozoic period
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- PangeaPrehistoric unified landmass
- GondwanaAncient southern supercontinent
extinction · megafauna · prehistoric · evolution · diversification · radiation · dominance · terrestrial
Preserved ancient organism
- excavationAct of unearthing
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- amberHardened ancient tree secretion
petrification · mineralization · coprolite · trackway · skeleton · specimen · reconstruction · museum
Bipedal carnivorous dinosaur group
- crocodilianOrder of large reptiles
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- cladeMonophyletic taxonomic group
- monophyleticFrom one ancestral lineage
taxon · classification · systematics · derived · basal
Plates or weighing devices
- scutesHorny epidermal plates
- fenestraNatural body opening
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- clawsAnimal gripping nails
pneumatic · skeletal · skull · mandible · vertebrae · limb · posture · gait
Fast predatory dinosaur genus
- BrachiosaurusTall sauropod genus
- SpinosaurusSail-spined Cretaceous theropod
- IguanodonOrnithopod genus with distinctive thumb spikes
- GiganotosaurusLarge Argentine carnivorous dinosaur
crocodile
Large semiaquatic tropical reptile
- alligatorLarge American swamp reptile
- caimanNeotropical crocodilian species
- birdFeathered flying vertebrate
avian · extant · descendant · modern · surviving · lineage · evolutionary · related · emu · ostrich
Triassic
First Mesozoic period
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- PangeaPrehistoric unified landmass
Gondwana · extinction · megafauna · prehistoric · evolution · diversification · radiation · dominance · terrestrial · apex
fossil
Preserved ancient organism
- excavationAct of unearthing
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
amber · petrification · mineralization · coprolite · trackway · skeleton · specimen · reconstruction · museum · discovery
theropod
Bipedal carnivorous dinosaur group
- crocodilianOrder of large reptiles
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
- cladeMonophyletic taxonomic group
monophyletic · taxon · classification · systematics · derived · basal
scales
Plates or weighing devices
claws · pneumatic · skeletal · skull · mandible · vertebrae · limb · posture · gait · musculature
Velociraptor
Fast predatory dinosaur genus
- BrachiosaurusTall sauropod genus
- SpinosaurusSail-spined Cretaceous theropod
- IguanodonOrnithopod genus with distinctive thumb spikes