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Theropoda

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Theropods
Temporal range:
Late TriassicPresent, 231.4–0 Ma
Muntit skelet o Coelophysis bauri, Cleveland Museum o Naitural History
Scientific classification e
Kinrick: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Order: Saurischia
Clade: Eusaurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Marsh, 1881
Subgroups[1]

Theropoda (theropod /ˈθɛrəpɒd/; suborder name Theropoda /θˈrɒpdə/, frae Greek meanin "beast feet") is baith a suborder o bipedal saurischian dinosaurs, an a clade consistin o that suborder an its descendants (includin modren birds). Dinosaurs belangin tae the suborder Theropoda wur primarily carnivorous, altho a nummer o theropod groups evolved herbivory, omnivory, an insectivory. Theropods first appeared durin the Carnian age o the late Triassic period aboot 230 million years ago (Ma) an includit the sole muckle terrestrial carnivores frae the Early Jurassic till at least the close o the Cretaceous, aboot 66 Ma. In the Jurassic, birds evolved frae smaa specialized coelurosaurian theropods, an are the day representit bi 9,900 livin species.

Amang the featurs linkin theropod dinosaurs tae birds are a furcula (wishbone), air-filled bones, broodin o the eggs, an (in coelurosaurs, at least) feathers.

References

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  1. Holtz, Thomas R., Jr. (2012). Dinosaurs: The Most Complete, Up-to-Date Encyclopedia for Dinosaur Lovers of All Ages, Winter 2011 Appendix.