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Dromaeosauridae

Reptilia - Dromaeosauridae

Taxonomy
Dromaeosauridae was named by Colbert and Russell (1969). It is not extant. It was considered monophyletic by Zheng et al. (2009).

It was assigned to Theropoda by Thulborn (1984); to Dinoaves by Bakker (1986); to Carnosauria by Russell and Dong (1994); to Coelurosauria by Ostrom (1980), Santafé et al. (1982), Dong (1992), Currie (1995), Zinke (1998); to Theropoda by Ostrom (1969), Ostrom (1969), Ostrom (1970), Sues (1977), Rozhdestvensky (1977), Carroll (1988), Currie (1995), Peng et al. (2001); to Theropoda by Eberth et al. (2001); to Saurischia by Sankey et al. (2002); to Eumaniraptora by Holtz (2000), Maryanska et al. (2002), Godefroit et al. (2013); to Coelurosauria by Williamson and Brusatte (2014); to Maniraptoriformes by Hendrickx and Mateus (2014); to Maniraptora by Benton (1990), Osmolska (1990), Chatterjee (1993), Holtz (1994), Holtz (1995), Holtz (1996), Currie (1997), Hutchinson and Padian (1997), Le Loeuff (1998), Holtz (1998), Barsbold and Osmólska (1999), Norell and Makovicky (2004), Sánchez-Hernández et al. (2007), Xu et al. (2010), Lü and Brusatte (2015); to Deinonychosauria by Colbert and Russell (1969), Barsbold (1976), Barsbold (1977), Barsbold (1983), Russell (1984), Gauthier and Padian (1985), Buffetaut et al. (1986), Gauthier (1986), Sereno (1997), Sereno (1999), Rauhut (2003), Senter et al. (2004), Burnham et al. (2004), Senter (2007), Zheng et al. (2009), Gianechini et al. (2017); to Tetanurae by Xu and Qin (2017); and to Paraves by O'Connor and Sullivan (2014), Poust et al. (2020), Porfiri et al. (2024).

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1969Dromaeosauridae Colbert and Russell p. 43
1969Dromaeosauridae Ostrom p. 2
1970Dromaeosauridae Ostrom p. 65
1976Dromaeosauridae Barsbold p. 74
1977Dromaeosauridae Barsbold p. 50
1977Dromaeosauridae Rozhdestvensky p. 112
1977Dromaeosauridae Sues
1980Dromaeosauridae Ostrom p. 21
1982Dromaeosauridae Santafé et al. p. 82
1983Dromaeosauridae Barsbold p. 88
1984Dromaeosauridae Russell p. 28
1984Dromaeosauridae Thulborn p. 132
1985Dromaeosauridae Gauthier and Padian p. 190
1986Dromaeosauridae Bakker p. 460
1986Dromaeosauridae Buffetaut et al. p. 1395
1986Dromaeosauridae Gauthier p. 1108
1988Dromaeosauridae Carroll
1990Dromaeosauridae Benton p. 19
1990Dromaeosauridae Osmolska p. 150
1992Dromaeosauridae Dong p. 164
1993Dromaeosauridae Chatterjee p. 283
1994Dromaeosauridae Holtz
1994Dromaeosauridae Russell and Dong p. 2125
1995Dromaeosauridae Currie
1995Dromaeosauridae Holtz, Jr. p. 35A
1996Dromaeosauridae Holtz, Jr. p. 42A
1997Dromaeosauridae Currie p. 733
1997Dromaeosauridae Hutchinson and Padian p. 129
1997Dromaeosauridae Sereno p. 444
1998Dromaeosauridae Holtz, Jr. p. 40
1998Dromaeosauridae Le Loeuff p. 53
1998Dromaeosauridae Zinke p. 181
1999Dromaeosauridae Barsbold and Osmólska p. 190
1999Dromaeosauridae Sereno p. 2139 fig. 2
2000Dromaeosauridae Holtz, Jr. p. 13 fig. 5
2001Dromaeosauridae Eberth et al. p. 56
2001Dromaeosauridae Peng et al. p. 36
2002Dromaeosauridae Maryanska et al. pp. 101-102 fig. 1
2002Dromaeosauridae Sankey et al. p. 752
2003Dromaeosauridae Rauhut p. 159
2004Dromaeosauridae Burnham et al. p. 42A
2004Dromaeosauridae Norell and Makovicky p. 198
2004Dromaeosauridae Senter et al. p. 2 fig. 2
2007Dromaeosauridae Senter p. 437
2007Dromaeosauridae Sánchez-Hernández et al. p. 193
2009Dromaeosauridae Zheng et al.
2010Dromaeosauridae Xu et al. p. 2
2013Dromaeosauridae Godefroit et al.
2014Dromaeosauridae Hendrickx and Mateus
2014Dromaeosauridae O'Connor and Sullivan
2014Dromaeosauridae Williamson and Brusatte p. 8
2015Dromaeosauridae Lü and Brusatte
2017Dromaeosauridae Gianechini et al. p. 12 fig. 8
2017Dromaeosauridae Xu and Qin
2020Dromaeosauridae Poust et al.
2024Dromaeosauridae Porfiri et al. p. 5

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
subclassEureptilia()
—Romeriida
RankNameAuthor
—Diapsida()
—Archosauromorpha(Huene 1946)
—Crocopoda
—ArchosauriformesGauthier 1986
—Eucrocopoda
—Archosauria()
informalAvemetatarsalia
—Ornithodira
—Dinosauromorpha
—Dinosauriformes
—Dinosauria()
—Theropoda()
—Neotheropoda
—AverostraPaul 2002
—Tetanurae
—Coelurosauria()
—Maniraptora
—Paraves
infraorderDeinonychosauria
familyDromaeosauridae
familyDromaeosauridae

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Fm. †Dromaeosauridae Colbert and Russell 1969
show all | hide all
G. †Balaur Csiki et al. 2010
+
†Balaur bondoc Csiki et al. 2010
G. †Bambiraptor Burnham et al. 2000
+
†Bambiraptor feinbergi Burnham et al. 2000
G. †Daurlong Wang et al. 2022
+
†Daurlong wangi Wang et al. 2022
G. †Dromaeosauroides Christiansen and Bonde 2003
+
†Dromaeosauroides bornholmensis Christiansen and Bonde 2003
Unr. †Eudromaeosauria Longrich and Currie 2009
+
G. †Achillobator Perle et al. 1999
+
†Achillobator giganticus Perle et al. 1999
G. †Adasaurus Barsbold 1977
+
†Adasaurus mongoliensis Barsbold 1983
G. †Deinonychus Ostrom 1969
+
†Deinonychus antirrhopus Ostrom 1969
Subfm. †Dromaeosaurinae Matthew and Brown 1922
+
G. †Boreonykus Bell and Currie 2016
+
†Boreonykus certekorum Bell and Currie 2016
G. †Dakotaraptor DePalma et al. 2015
+
†Dakotaraptor steini DePalma et al. 2015
G. †Dromaeosaurus Matthew and Brown 1922
+
†Dromaeosaurus albertensis Matthew and Brown 1922
G. †Itemirus Kurzanov 1976
+
†Itemirus medullaris Kurzanov 1976
G. †Yurgovuchia Senter et al. 2012
+
†Yurgovuchia doellingi Senter et al. 2012
G. †Zapsalis Cope 1876
+
†Zapsalis abradens Cope 1876
Subfm. †Saurornitholestinae Longrich and Currie 2009
+
G. †Atrociraptor Currie and Varricchio 2004
+
†Atrociraptor marshalli Currie and Varricchio 2004
G. †Saurornitholestes Sues 1978
+
†Saurornitholestes sullivani Jasinski 2015
G. †Utahraptor Kirkland et al. 1993
+
†Utahraptor ostrommaysi Kirkland et al. 1993
G. †Vectiraptor Longrich et al. 2022
+
†Vectiraptor greeni Longrich et al. 2022
Subfm. †Velociraptorinae Barsbold 1983
+
G. †Acheroraptor Evans et al. 2013
+
†Acheroraptor temertyorum Evans et al. 2013
G. †Dineobellator Jasinski et al. 2020
+
†Dineobellator notohesperus Jasinski et al. 2020
G. Kansaignathus Averianov and Lopatin 2021
+
†Kansaignathus sogdianus Averianov and Lopatin 2021
G. †Linheraptor Xu et al. 2010
+
†Linheraptor exquisitus Xu et al. 2010
G. †Tsaagan Norell et al. 2006
+
†Tsaagan mangas Norell et al. 2006
G. †Velociraptor Osborn 1924
+
†Velociraptor osmolskae Godefroit et al. 2008
Subfm. †Halszkaraptorinae Cau et al. 2017
+
G. †Halszkaraptor Cau et al. 2017
+
†Halszkaraptor escuilliei Cau et al. 2017
G. †Hulsanpes Osmolska 1982
+
†Hulsanpes perlei Osmolska 1982
G. †Mahakala Turner et al. 2007
+
†Mahakala omnogovae Turner et al. 2007
G. †Natovenator Lee et al. 2022
+
†Natovenator polydontus Lee et al. 2022
G. †Imperobator Ely and Case 2019
+
†Imperobator antarcticus Ely and Case 2019
G. †Kuru Napoli et al. 2021
+
†Kuru kulla Napoli et al. 2021
G. †Luanchuanraptor Lü 2007
+
Subfm. †Microraptorinae Senter et al. 2004
+
G. †Changyuraptor Han et al. 2014
+
†Changyuraptor yangi Han et al. 2014
G. †Dromaeosauriformipes Kim et al. 2018
+
†Dromaeosauriformipes rarus Kim et al. 2018
G. †Graciliraptor Xu and Wang 2004 [slender raptor]
+
†Graciliraptor lujiatunensis Xu and Wang 2004
G. †Hesperonychus Longrich and Currie 2009
+
†Hesperonychus elizabethae Longrich and Currie 2009
G. †Microraptor Xu et al. 2000
+
†Microraptor gui Xu et al. 2003
†Microraptor hanqingi Gong et al. 2012
†Microraptor zhaoianus Xu et al. 2000
+
Invalid names: Archaeoraptor liaoningensis Sloan 1999 [objective synonym], Cryptovolans pauli Czerkas et al. 2002 [synonym]
Invalid names: Archaeoraptor Sloan 1999 [objective synonym], Cryptovolans Czerkas et al. 2002 [synonym]
G. †Shanag Turner et al. 2007
+
†Shanag ashile Turner et al. 2007
G. †Sinornithosaurus Xu et al. 1999
+
†Sinornithosaurus millenii Xu et al. 1999
+
Invalid names: Sinornithosaurus haoiana Liu et al. 2004 [synonym]
G. †Zhongjianosaurus Xu and Qin 2017
+
†Zhongjianosaurus yangi Xu and Qin 2017
G. †Nuthetes Owen 1854
+
†Nuthetes destructor Owen 1854
G. †Pyroraptor Allain and Taquet 2000
+
†Pyroraptor olympius Allain and Taquet 2000
G. †Richardoestesia Currie et al. 1990
+
†Richardoestesia asiatica Nessov 1995
†Richardoestesia gilmorei Currie et al. 1990
Invalid names: Asiamericana Nessov 1995 [synonym]
G. †Shri Turner et al. 2021
+
†Shri devi Turner et al. 2021
G. †Tianyuraptor Zheng et al. 2009
+
†Tianyuraptor ostromi Zheng et al. 2009
Subfm. †Unenlagiinae Bonaparte 1999
+
G. †Austroraptor Novas et al. 2008
+
†Austroraptor cabazai Novas et al. 2008
G. †Buitreraptor Makovicky et al. 2005
+
†Buitreraptor gonzalezorum Makovicky et al. 2005
G. †Diuqin Porfiri et al. 2024
+
†Diuqin lechiguanae Porfiri et al. 2024
G. †Neuquenraptor Novas and Pol 2005
+
†Neuquenraptor argentinus Novas and Pol 2005
G. †Rahonavis Forster et al. 1998
+
†Rahonavis ostromi Forster et al. 1998
Invalid names: Rahona Forster et al. 1998 [replaced]
G. †Unenlagia Novas and Puerta 1997
+
†Unenlagia comahuensis Novas and Puerta 1997
†Unenlagia paynemili Calvo et al. 2004
G. †Ypupiara Brum et al. 2021
+
†Ypupiara lopai Brum et al. 2021
G. †Variraptor Le Loeuff and Buffetaut 1998
+
†Variraptor mechinorum Le Loeuff and Buffetaut 1998
G. †Velociraptorichnus Zhen et al. 1994
+
†Velociraptorichnus sichuanensis Zhen et al. 1994
†Velociraptorichnus zhangi Xing et al. 2015
G. †Wulong Poust et al. 2020
+
†Wulong bohaiensis Poust et al. 2020
G. †Zhenyuanlong Lü and Brusatte 2015
+
†Zhenyuanlong suni Lü and Brusatte 2015
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: hydroxyapatiteo
Entire body: yeso
Adult length: 10 to < 100o
Adult width: 1.0 to < 10o
Adult height: 1.0 to < 10o
Maximum body mass: 1000 kgg
Minimum body mass: 10 kgg
Architecture: compact or denseo
Ontogeny: accretion, modification of partso
Grouping: solitaryo
Environment: terrestrialf
Locomotion: actively mobileo
Life habit: ground dwellingf
Diet: carnivoref
Reproduction: oviparousf
Dispersal: direct/internalo
Dispersal 2: mobileo
Created: 2005-09-11 17:04:18
Modified: 2005-09-11 19:04:18
Source: g = genus, f = family, o = order
References: Marsh 1875, Holtz et al. 2000, Peczkis 1995

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Toarcian to the top of the Edmontonian or 184.20000 to 66.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 170.9 Ma

Collections (642 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Toarcian - Aalenian184.2 - 170.9India (Andhra Pradesh) Dromaeosauridae indet. 1, Dromaeosauridae indet. 2, Dromaeosauridae indet. 3, Dromaeosauridae indet. 4, Dromaeosauridae indet. 5, Dromaeosauridae indet. (39673)
Late/Upper Bathonian168.2 - 165.3United Kingdom (England) Dromaeosauridae indet. (224639)
Late/Upper Jurassic161.5 - 143.1China (Liaoning) D. NGMC-91 (235512)
Kimmeridgian154.8 - 149.2USA (Montana) Dromaeosauridae indet. (69890)
Kimmeridgian154.8 - 149.2Spain (Asturias) Theropoda indet. (61313)
Kimmeridgian154.8 - 149.2Portugal (Leiria) Velociraptorinae indet., Richardoestesia sp., Dromaeosaurus sp. (24563)
Kimmeridgian - Tithonian154.8 - 143.1Spain (Valenciana) Megalosaurus sp. (61316)
Kimmeridgian - Tithonian154.8 - 143.1USA (Wyoming) Dromaeosauridae indet. (230770) Dromaeosauridae indet., Richardoestesia sp. (49636)
Kimmeridgian - Tithonian154.8 - 143.1Spain (Teruel) Dromaeosauridae indet. (85291)
Late/Upper Kimmeridgian152.21 - 149.2Portugal (Lourinha) Dromaeosauridae indet., Richardoestesia gilmorei (154213)
Late/Upper Kimmeridgian152.21 - 149.2Germany (Niedersachsen) Velociraptorinae indet. (51859)
Late/Upper Kimmeridgian - Early/Lower Tithonian152.21 - 145.06USA (Colorado) Dromaeosauridae indet. (45975)
Late/Upper Kimmeridgian - Early/Lower Tithonian152.21 - 145.06Portugal (Lisboa) Dromaeosauridae indet. (163145)
Late/Upper Kimmeridgian - Early/Lower Tithonian152.21 - 145.06Portugal (Centro) Dromaeosauridae indet. (38680)
Late/Upper Kimmeridgian - Tithonian152.21 - 143.1Spain (Aragón) Dromaeosauridae indet. (68019)
Early/Lower Tithonian149.2 - 145.06France (Poitou-Charentes) Dromaeosauridae indet. (164377)
Tithonian149.2 - 143.1Ethiopia (Shewa) Dromaeosaurinae indet. (48832)
Late/Upper Tithonian - Early/Lower Berriasian145.06 - 141.0Morocco (Figuig) Dromaeosauridae indet. (204918 204936 204979 204990)
Late/Upper Tithonian - Early/Lower Berriasian145.06 - 141.0Morocco (Oriental) Velociraptorinae indet. 2, Velociraptorinae indet. 3, Velociraptorinae indet. (45726)
Early/Lower Berriasian143.1 - 141.0Denmark (Bornholm) Dromaeosauridae indet. (83134)