Theropoda (theropod /ˈθɛrəpɒd/; suborder name Theropoda /θɨˈrɒpɵdə/, from Greek meaning "beast feet") is both a suborder of bipedal saurischian dinosaurs, and a clade consisting of that suborder and its descendants (including modern birds). Dinosaurs belonging to the suborder Theropoda were primarily carnivorous, although a number of theropod groups evolved herbivory, omnivory, and insectivory. Theropods first appeared during the Carnian age of the late Triassic period about 230 MYA and included the sole large terrestrial carnivores from the Early Jurassic until
Prehistoric birds: hesperornis (Sea Monsters), terror bird (WWB), gastornis (WWB). (Image by Vaderxl).
at least the close of the Cretaceous, about 66 MYA. In the Jurassic, birds evolved from small specialized coelurosaurian theropods, and are today represented by 9,900 living species.
Among the features linking theropod dinosaurs to birds are a furcula (wishbone), air-filled bones, brooding of the eggs, and (in coelurosaurs, at least) feathers.
