DINOSAUR GROUPS

Caenagnathidae

3 field notes in this family: Anzu, Chirostenotes and Gigantoraptor.

ARTISTIC RECONSTRUCTION

What is Caenagnathidae?

Caenagnathidae is a family of prehistoric animals used in this catalogue to connect related field notes. Anzu, Chirostenotes and Gigantoraptor share this grouping, and their fossils come from the Cretaceous period, with finds reported from North America and Asia. The shared grouping is a starting point for comparison rather than proof of identical lifestyles.

How this group is defined here

Members are the 3 field notes whose family or immediate parent group in the Paleobiology Database catalogue is Caenagnathidae. The interpreted diet field across the group is omnivore, based on skeletal features rather than direct observation. Groups are revised when new fossils are described, and some genera are placed here with less certainty than others, so each field note records its sources and limits.

Caenagnathidae members

Caenagnathidae member comparison
GenusPeriodFossil locationsCategory
AnzuCretaceousSee field notedinosaur
ChirostenotesCretaceousNorth Americadinosaur
GigantoraptorCretaceousAsiadinosaur

Quick answers about Caenagnathidae

Is Anzu a caenagnathid?
Yes. In this catalogue Anzu is placed in Caenagnathidae, with Caenagnathinae as its immediate parent group, and its fossils are from the Cretaceous period. Classification changes as new fossils are described, so the field note lists the sources and any disagreement.
Is Chirostenotes a caenagnathid?
Yes. In this catalogue Chirostenotes is placed in Caenagnathidae, and its fossils are from the Cretaceous period. Classification changes as new fossils are described, so the field note lists the sources and any disagreement.
Is Gigantoraptor a caenagnathid?
Yes. In this catalogue Gigantoraptor is placed in Caenagnathidae, and its fossils are from the Cretaceous period. Classification changes as new fossils are described, so the field note lists the sources and any disagreement.

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