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clade · 26 represented species

Coelurosauria

Coelurosauria is the theropod lineage containing tyrannosauroids, ornithomimosaurs, maniraptorans and birds.

Explore this branch Parent: Tetanurae

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Coelurosauria

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Representative silhouette for Coelurosauria
5Direct child groups
8Countries represented
170–0 MaDataset range

Definition

Characteristics and significance

This branch contains most theropods with direct evidence of feathers and encompasses the evolutionary transition to birds.

  • Relatively lightweight skeleton
  • Elongated lower limbs in many early members
  • Feathers documented across multiple branches

Name meaning: Hollow-tailed lizards

Branch structure

Direct branches in this dataset

Representative taxa

Dinosaurs in this branch

Jurassic

Compsognathus longipes

A small Late Jurassic theropod known from just two exceptionally complete European skeletons—one from Bavaria and a larger individual from Canjuers, France—both preserving evidence central to its anatomy and diet.

carnivore~1.25 m

Cretaceous

Sinosauropteryx prima

A small Jehol coelurosaur whose articulated fossils preserve simple filamentous feathers, gut contents and a striped, countershaded colour pattern.

carnivore~1.1 m

Cretaceous

Mexidracon longimanus

A long-handed ornithomimid from northern Mexico whose metacarpals were unusually longer than its metatarsals, known from one headless partial skeleton.

omnivore~2.7 m

Cretaceous

Gallimimus bullatus

A large, toothless Mongolian ornithomimid with a small head, long neck and powerful running legs, known from several skeletons spanning different growth stages.

omnivore~6 m

Cretaceous

Ornithomimus edmontonicus

A long-legged Canadian ornithomimid known from complete skeletons and fossils preserving a shaggy coat and adult wing-like arm feathers.

omnivore~3.8 m

Cretaceous

Deinocheirus mirificus

A giant, deep-bodied Mongolian ornithomimosaur with enormous arms, a toothless duck-like beak, tall back spines and a broad-footed build unlike any other known theropod.

omnivore~11 m

Distribution

Geographic record

Germany · France · China · Mexico · Mongolia · Canada · United States · Argentina

Country-level summary of represented seed records, not a complete range map.

Sources

Further reading