theropod
noun
the·ro·pod
ˈthir-ə-ˌpäd 
plural theropods
: any of a suborder (Theropoda) of carnivorous, bipedal, saurischian dinosaurs (such as a tyrannosaur or velociraptor) having hollow, thin-walled bones and usually small forelimbs
Note: Birds are descended from one lineage of small theropods.
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Kank australis belongs to the unenlagiids, a family of small-to-medium theropod dinosaurs discovered across Late Cretaceous deposits in South America, Antarctica, Australia, and Madagascar.
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Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
The evolutionary trend toward shorter arms in theropods – the larger group of meat-eating, two-legged dinosaurs that T. rex belongs to – happened multiple times.
—Sarah Sheffield, The Conversation, 11 May 2026
Several other theropods were rendered with feathers.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Several other theropods were rendered with feathers.
—Yutao Chen, Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2026
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Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
The evolutionary trend toward shorter arms in theropods – the larger group of meat-eating, two-legged dinosaurs that T. rex belongs to – happened multiple times.
—Sarah Sheffield, The Conversation, 11 May 2026
Several other theropods were rendered with feathers.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Several other theropods were rendered with feathers.
—Yutao Chen, Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for theropod
Cite this Entry
“Theropod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theropod. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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