Dinosaur Taxa

Dinosaur taxa represent the structured branches of evolutionary descent — clades that group together organisms based on shared ancestry. From basal saurischians to highly specialized ornithischians, these lineages provide the framework for understanding how dinosaurs evolved and diversified.

Major Dinosaur Clades

Below are some of the principal taxa featured on this site. Each links to subgroups, example genera, or anatomical traits shared within the clade.

Saurischia

• Theropoda – Bipedal carnivores (and early birds)
• Sauropodomorpha – Long-necked herbivores including sauropods

Ornithischia

• Thyreophora – Armored dinosaurs like stegosaurs and ankylosaurs
• Ceratopsia – Horned and frilled dinosaurs such as Triceratops
• Ornithopoda – Beaked herbivores including hadrosaurs

Other Taxa in Focus

• Maniraptora – Feathered theropods closely related to birds
• Marginocephalia – Group combining ceratopsians and pachycephalosaurs
• Deinonychosauria – Sickle-clawed predators including Velociraptor

Interactive Taxonomy (Coming Soon)

We are working on a collapsible cladogram that allows you to trace each branch of the dinosaur family tree interactively. This feature will let you explore taxa from high-level clades down to individual genera and species.

Understanding Taxonomy

Taxonomy is not static. New discoveries and cladistic analyses continue to reshape our understanding of dinosaur relationships. This section will evolve with the science, aiming to reflect the most current consensus — while also noting areas of debate.