Troodontidae is a clade of bird-like theropod dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous. During most of the 20th century, troodontid fossils were few and incomplete and they have therefore been allied, at various times, with many dinosaurian lineages. More recent fossil discoveries of complete and articulated specimens, have helped to increase understanding about this group. Anatomical studies, particularly studies of the most primitive troodontids, like Sinovenator, demonstrate striking anatomical similarities with Archaeopteryx and primitive dromaeosaurids, and demonstrate that they are relatives comprising a clade called Paraves.
C. Shen, J. Lü, and S. Liu, M. Kundrát, S. L. Brusatte, H. Gao. 2017. A new troodontid dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, China. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition) 91(3):763-780
DOI ↗
Bibliography (7)
H. Zhang, D. Yu, and Y. Feng, R. Pei, C.-F. Zhou. 2022. A Lujiatun-like dinosaurian assemblage from the Jehol Biota of Ningcheng, Inner Mongolia, Northeast China. Acta Paleontologica Polonica 67(3):617-621
DOI ↗
Y.-L. Yin, R. Pei, and C.-F. Zhou. 2018. Cranial morphology of Sinovenator changii (Theropoda: Troodontidae) on the new material from the Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, China. PeerJ 6:e4977:1-42
DOI ↗
X. Xu, P. Currie, and M. Pittman, L. Xing, Q. Meng, J. Lü, D. Hu, C. Yu. 2017. Mosaic evolution in an asymmetrically feathered troodontid dinosaur with transitional features. Nature Communications 8:14972:1-12
DOI ↗
C. -L. Gao, E. M. Morschauser, and D. J. Varricchio, J. Liu, B. Zhao. 2012. A second soundly sleeping dragon: new anatomical details of the Chinese troodontid Mei long with implications for phylogeny and taphonomy. PLoS ONE 7(9):e45203:1-17
DOI ↗
X. Xu, H. You, and K. Du, F. Han. 2011. An Archaeopteryx-like theropod from China and the origin of Avialae. Nature 475:465-470
DOI ↗
X. Xu and M. A. Norell. 2004. A new troodontid dinosaur from China with avian-like sleeping posture. Nature 431:838-841
DOI ↗
X. Xu, M. A. Norell, and X.-l. Wang, P. J. Makovicky, X.-c. Wu. 2002. A basal troodontid from the Early Cretaceous of China. Nature 415:780-784
DOI ↗