Troodontidae

Troodontids; Temporal range: ; Middle Jurassic–Late Cretaceous,
	Collection of four troodontids, clockwise from top left: Mei, unnamed Alaskan troodontid, Jianianhualong, Sinovenator.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Dinosauria
Clade:	Saurischia
Clade:	Theropoda
Clade:	Paraves
Family:	†Troodontidae; Gilmore, 1924
Type species
	†Troodon formosus; Leidy, 1856
Clade
	†Albertavenator; †Almas; †Archaeornithoides?; †Geminiraptor; †Hesperornithoides; †Jianianhualong; †Koparion?; †Liaoningvenator; †Paronychodon?; †Papiliovenator; †Polyodontosaurus; †Sinornithoides; †Talos; †Tochisaurus; †Xixiasaurus; †Jinfengopteryginae; †Sinovenatorinae; †Troodontinae;
Synonyms
	Saurornithoididae Barsbold, 1974;

Troodontidae /troʊ.əˈdɒntɪdiː/ is a clade of bird-like theropod dinosaurs. During most of the 20th century, troodontid fossils were few and incomplete and they have therefore been allied, at various times, with many dinosaurian lineages. More recent fossil discoveries of complete and articulated specimens (including specimens which preserve feathers, eggs, embryos, and complete juveniles), have helped to increase understanding about this group. Anatomical studies, particularly studies of the most primitive troodontids, like Sinovenator, demonstrate striking anatomical similarities with Archaeopteryx and primitive dromaeosaurids, and demonstrate that they are relatives comprising a clade called Paraves.

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