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'Tyrannosaurs', 'tyrant lizards' or members of the 'Tyrannosauridae' are a carnivorous dinosaur family whose name is derived from the Greek words ''tyrannos'', meaning 'tyrant' and ''sauros'', meaning 'lizard'.
Tyrannosaurids were originally classified as 'carnosaurs', along with most of the rest of the large theropods. Recent phylogenetic studies, however, have determined that tyrannosaurids are coelurosaurs, a group which also includes the ornithomimids and the maniraptorans. Thus, they are more closely related to dromaeosaurids than to other large predatory dinosaur groups such as the allosaurids. Discoveries of basal, coelurid-like tyrannosauroids have helped solidify this link. ''Nature'', '431': 680-684. PMID: 15470426 These discoveries also give evidence that tyrannosauroids may have been feathered.
Tyrannosaurs are characterized by broad, massive skulls, short, powerful necks, and reduced 'arms' with only two digits. Notable specimens include "Jane", the world's most complete juvenile ''T. rex''.

★ 'Weight:' up to 6.4 tonnes (up to 7 US tons)

★ 'Length:' up to 12 metres (up to 40 ft)

★ 'Location:' Western Europe, North America, Central and East Asia (area dependent on species)

★ 'Period:' Late Cretaceous

Contents

Taxonomy

Classification

Phylogeny

References

Taxonomy

Classification

The Tyrannosaurids contain several genera and species, of which ''Tyrannosaurus rex'' is undoubtedly the most well-known.

★ 'Superfamily Tyrannosauroidea' (primitive tyrannosaurs)

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★ 'Family Tyrannosauridae'

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★ 'Subfamily Albertosaurinae'

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★ ''Appalachiosaurus''

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★ ''Bagaraatan''

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★ ''Xinjiangovenator''

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★ 'Tribe Albertosaurini'

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★ ''Albertosaurus''

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★ ''Gorgosaurus''

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★ 'Subfamily Tyrannosaurinae'

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★ ''Alioramus''

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★ ''Daspletosaurus''

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★ 'Tribe Tyrannosaurini'

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★ ''Nanotyrannus''

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★ ''Tarbosaurus''

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★ ''Tyrannosaurus''

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★ 'Uncertain placement' (''incertae sedis'')

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★ ''Aublysodon''

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★ ''Deinodon''

Phylogeny

Cladogram after Carr (2005) and Mortimer (2006, online)[1].
'Tyrannosauridae'
|-?''Aublysodon''
|-?''Deinodon''
|--Albertosaurinae
| |--+--''Appalachiosaurus''
| | `-?+--''Bagaraatan''
| | `-?''Xinjiangovenator''
| `--Albertosaurini
| |--''Gorgosaurus''
| `--''Albertosaurus''
`--Tyrannosaurinae
|--''Daspletosaurus''
`--+-?''Alioramus''
|--''Tarbosaurus''
|-?''Tyrannosaurus? zhuchengensis''
`--''Tyrannosaurus''

References