theropod

/ˌθɪrəˈpɑd/

Other forms: theropods

Definitions of theropod

1. noun

   any of numerous carnivorous dinosaurs of the Triassic to Cretaceous with short forelimbs that walked or ran on strong hind legs
   synonyms: bird-footed dinosaur, theropod dinosaur

   types:

   ceratosaur, ceratosaurus

   primitive medium-sized theropod; swift-running bipedal carnivorous dinosaur having grasping hands with sharp claws and a short horn between the nostrils; Jurassic in North America

   carnosaur

   large carnivorous bipedal dinosaur having huge claws

   Tyrannosaurus rex, tyrannosaur, tyrannosaurus

   large carnivorous bipedal dinosaur having enormous teeth with knifelike serrations; may have been a scavenger rather than an active predator; later Cretaceous period in North America

   allosaur, allosaurus

   late Jurassic carnivorous dinosaur; similar to but somewhat smaller than tyrannosaurus

   compsognathus

   very small bipedal carnivorous dinosaur of the late Jurassic in Bavaria

   herrerasaur, herrerasaurus

   a kind of theropod dinosaur found in Argentina

   eoraptor

   a theropod dinosaur of the genus Eoraptor

   megalosaur, megalosaurus

   gigantic carnivorous bipedal dinosaur of the Jurassic or early Cretaceous in Europe

   ornithomimid

   lightly built medium-sized dinosaur having extremely long limbs and necks with small heads and big brains and large eyes

   maniraptor

   advanced carnivorous theropod

   coelophysis

   one of the oldest known dinosaurs; late Triassic; cannibalistic

   struthiomimus

   small light-boned toothless dinosaur resembling an ostrich in size and proportions

   deinocheirus

   lightly built medium-sized theropod with long limbs and neck

   oviraptorid

   advanced carnivorous theropod

   velociraptor

   small active carnivore that probably fed on protoceratops; possibly related more closely to birds than to other dinosaurs

   dromaeosaur

   a kind of maniraptor

   deinonychus

   swift agile wolf-sized bipedal dinosaur having a large curved claw on each hind foot; of the Cretaceous

   superslasher, utahraptor

   large (20-ft) and swift carnivorous dinosaur having an upright slashing claw 15 inches long on each hind foot; early Cretaceous

   Mononychus olecranus

   a turkey-sized long-legged fossil 75 million years old found in the Gobi Desert having bird-like fused wrist bones and keeled breastbone and a long tail resembling a dinosaur's; short forelimbs end in a single claw instead of wings; classification as bird or dinosaur is in dispute

   type of:

   saurischian, saurischian dinosaur

   herbivorous or carnivorous dinosaur having a three-pronged pelvis like that of a crocodile