theropods
Two-legged meat-eaters
Theropods are a group of bipedal dinosaurs that walked on two legs, including both fearsome predators like Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor and, unexpectedly, modern birds.
The name means "beast foot." Most theropods were carnivorous, though some evolved to eat plants or insects.
Paleontologists now classify birds as living theropods.
Prehistoric transitional flying creature
- birdsEgg-laying flying vertebrates
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- avianOf or concerning birds
- cladisticsClassification by common descent
phylogeny · transitional · flight · descendants · Mesozoic · Triassic · Jurassic · Cretaceous
Creature eating only animals
- hunterPursuer of prey
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
- clawsAnimal gripping nails
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
ambush · scavenger · prey · stalking · serrated · talons · pursuit · meat-eater
Having two feet
- three-toedHaving three digits
- featheredCovered with plumage
- crestHighest point or tuft
- sailShip's wind-catching fabric
horns · arms · skull · femur · tibia · vertebrae · pelvis · scapula
Fast predatory dinosaur genus
- SpinosaurusSail-spined Cretaceous theropod
- GiganotosaurusLarge Argentine carnivorous dinosaur
- DilophosaurusDouble-crested Jurassic theropod
- MegalosaurusPioneering dinosaur genus description
Study of ancient organisms
- excavationAct of unearthing
- skeletonInternal supportive framework
- fossilizationOrganic remains becoming mineral
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
coprolites · petrification · osteology · trackways · articulated · specimen · reconstruction · quarry
Archaeopteryx
Prehistoric transitional flying creature
cladistics · phylogeny · transitional · flight · descendants · Mesozoic · Triassic · Jurassic · Cretaceous · radiation
carnivore
Creature eating only animals
teeth · ambush · scavenger · prey · stalking · serrated · talons · pursuit · meat-eater · opportunistic
bipedal
Having two feet
- three-toedHaving three digits
- featheredCovered with plumage
- crestHighest point or tuft
sail · horns · arms · skull · femur · tibia · vertebrae · pelvis · scapula · pubis
Velociraptor
Fast predatory dinosaur genus
- SpinosaurusSail-spined Cretaceous theropod
- GiganotosaurusLarge Argentine carnivorous dinosaur
- DilophosaurusDouble-crested Jurassic theropod
Megalosaurus · Utahraptor · Albertosaurus · Gallimimus · bipedal
paleontology
Study of ancient organisms
- excavationAct of unearthing
- skeletonInternal supportive framework
- fossilizationOrganic remains becoming mineral
sediment · coprolites · petrification · osteology · trackways · articulated · specimen · reconstruction · quarry · museum
- dinosaur cladessauropods, hadrosaurs, ankylosaurs, stegosaurs, tyrannosaurs
- Mesozoicdinosaurs, Velociraptor, Brachiosaurus, Spinosaurus, pterosaurs
- dinosaursdinosaurs, Velociraptor, Brachiosaurus, raptors, Spinosaurus
- fossilsdinosaur bones, ammonite, amber, ammonites, fossils
- prehistoric lifedinosaur, dinosaurs, triceratops, Velociraptor, velociraptor
- Cladesmammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects
theropodssauropods
Massive long-necked dinosaur group
titanosaurs · hadrosaurs · ankylosaurs · stegosaurs · apatosaurus