What is Carnosauria?
Q: What is Carnosauria?
A: Carnosauria is a subgroup of theropod dinosaurs, also known as Allosauroidea.
Q: What are some features that characterize Carnosaurs?
A: Carnosaurs are characterized by several features, such as an open skull made of struts rather than solid bone, large eyes and a long, narrow skull. The femur is usually larger than the tibia, suggesting close-to action was controlled by sight. They had strong arms which were probably used to wrestle prey.
Q: How did Carnosaurs differ from Tyrannosaurs like Albertosaurus?
A: While Carnosaurs were general all-round predators adapted for running on open ground, Tyrannosaurs like Albertosaurus were better adapted for running on open ground and would use their heads for killing prey and head-butting rivals due to their small two-fingered hands.
Q: When did the Neovenatorid clade become extinct?
A: The Neovenatorid clade survived until the end of the Mesozoic era and became extinct at this time.
Q: What animals belonged to the Neovenatorid clade?
A: Animals belonging to the Neovenatorid clade included Aerosteon, Australovenator, Fukuiraptor and Neovenator.
Q: Are there any other names for Carnosauria besides Allosauroidea?
A: The term 'Carnosauria' was once used very widely but is now defined more narrowly and called by some authorities 'Allosauroidea'.
Q: How did modern cladistic analysis define Carnosauria (or Allosauroidea)? A: Modern cladistic analysis defines Carnosauria (or Allosauroidea) as those tetanurans which share a more recent common ancestor with Allosaurus than with modern birds.
