Noasaurids

Noasaurids are a clade of small theropod dinosaurs within the larger group Ceratosauria, specifically part of the Abelisauroidea. The group includes genera such as Noasaurus and Masiakasaurus, with fossils found in regions that were once part of Gondwana, including South America and Madagascar. They lived during the Cretaceous period, with a fossil record centered on Late Cretaceous rocks.

Morphologically, noasaurids were generally small and lightly built compared with other ceratosaurs. They display a variety of feeding adaptations, and some members show distinctive dental features. A notable example is Masiakasaurus, which possesses forward-projecting, procumbent teeth in the front of the jaws, suggesting a specialized feeding strategy. Overall, noasaurids illustrate the diversity of small theropods within Abelisauroidea.

Phylogenetically, Noasauridae is considered a more primitive lineage within Abelisauroidea, diverging before the emergence of the more derived Abelisauridae. However, the exact relationships among noasaurid genera remain uncertain, largely because the fossil remains are fragmentary and unevenly distributed across continents and time.

The fossil record for noasaurids is sparse, which limits detailed reconstructions of their anatomy and behavior. Nonetheless, they are important for understanding the early diversification of abelisauroids and the range of ecological roles occupied by small theropods in southern landmasses during the Cretaceous.