Ceratosaurids

Ceratosaurids are a group of theropod dinosaurs traditionally placed within the larger clade Ceratosauria. The family Ceratosauridae, typically defined to include Ceratosaurus and several closely related genera, is known mainly from Late Jurassic deposits with some members extending into the Early Cretaceous. The best-known and first-described member is Ceratosaurus, a medium-sized carnivore from North America. The exact composition of ceratosaurids has varied as new discoveries and analyses have reshaped theropod taxonomy, and some genera once considered ceratosaurids have been reassigned to other ceratosaur groups such as Noasauridae or Abelisauridae.

Anatomically, ceratosaurids were carnivorous theropods with skulls often featuring distinctive ornamentation or horns and robust jaws adapted for slicing flesh. Fossil remains indicate a range of sizes, and while convergent limb proportions existed among ceratosaurs, their overall body plan was that of bipedal predators. Dental morphology varied among genera, but many ceratosaurids possessed sharp, recurved teeth suitable for predation and scavenging.

In terms of paleobiogeography, ceratosaurids inhabited various regions that are today represented by North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, reflecting a broader distribution of ceratosaurian theropods during the Jurassic and early Cretaceous. Their ecological roles likely included predation on smaller vertebrates and possibly opportunistic scavenging, with body plans adapted to diverse habitats.

See also Ceratosauria, Noasauridae, Abelisauridae.