Theropoda

dinosaurs · hollow bones · bird ancestors

Three-Toed Walkers. All theropods had hollow bones and three toes with claws on each foot, which made them perfectly built for running and hunting.

Meat Eaters (Mostly). Theropods started out as carnivores, meaning they ate meat, but some groups later evolved to eat plants or a mix of both.

Feathered Friends. Many theropods, especially smaller ones called coelosaurs, were covered in feathers just like modern birds, and they looked way cooler than we used to think.

Living Dinosaurs Today. Birds are actually theropod dinosaurs that are still alive, which means theropods never really went extinct and there are about 11,000 species flying around right now.

Three Dinosaur Families. Theropods were one of three main groups of dinosaurs, alongside ornithischians and sauropodomorphs, making them a huge part of the dinosaur world.