Sinraptoridae
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Sinraptorids Fossil range: Jurassic |
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Sinraptorids were a family of carnivorous theropod dinosaurs. They tended to be large predators, some growing to sizes of 30 ft (10 m). Sinraptorids are carnosaurs, and many were initially classified within Megalosauridae or Allosauridae prior to recent analysis.
Cladistically, Sinraptoridae was latest defined in 2005 by Paul Sereno as the most inclusive monophyletic group that contains Sinraptor dongi and all species closer related to Sinraptor than to either Allosaurus fragilis, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus, or the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). It is likely that these theropods represent or are close to the ancestors of the allosaurs.