Metriacanthosauridae

Metriacanthosauridae is an extinct family of allosauroid theropod dinosaurs that lived from the Middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. When broken down into its Greek roots, it means "moderately-spined lizards". The family is split into two subgroups: Metriacanthosaurinae, which includes dinosaurs closely related to Metriacanthosaurus, and another group composed of the close relatives of Yangchuanosaurus. Metriacanthosaurids are considered carnosaurs, belonging to the Allosauroidea superfamily. The group includes species of large range in body size. Of their physical traits, most notable are their neural spines. The records of the group are mostly confined to Asia, though Metriacanthosaurus is known from Europe. Metriacanthosauridae is used as a senior synonym of Sinraptoridae.

Metriacanthosaurids
Temporal range: Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, Possible Albian record
Sinraptor dongi, Royal Tyrrell Museum
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Infraorder: Carnosauria
Superfamily: Allosauroidea
Family: Metriacanthosauridae
Paul, 1988
Type species
Metriacanthosaurus parkeri
Huene, 1923
Subgroups
Synonyms
  • Sinraptoridae Currie & Zhao, 1993
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