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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Shortly thereafter, Munich paleontologist Ernst Stromer von Reichenbach studied the partial skeleton and assigned it to the genus Carcharodontosaurus, a large, carnivorous theropod that lived in Northwest Africa between 100 and 94 million years ago. —

Leslie Katz, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025 These dinosaurs are all classified as theropods, which were mostly carnivorous. —

Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 1 Jan. 2025 The 30-foot-tall carnivorous theropod was a fearsome predator with three-toed claws who walked on two hind legs and resembled something similar to a Velociraptor. —

Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025 Since theropods are exceptionally rare at the site, Brockhurst has only found 10 or so specimens in the area over three decades. —

Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 5 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for theropod