Dinosaur Family Tree

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Dinosaurs are categorized in a taxonomy based on  a relationship similar to a family tree. There are many branches of this family tree but here is an image that may help you understand the relationships of Dinosaurs.

There are three main branches of dinosaurs. These include Theropods, Sauropodomorphs, and Ornithischans. All three branches are contained with in Diapsids. Diapsids are animals whose skulls have a pair of openings behind the skull. They are the most divers reptile groups.

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Theropods

Theropods included a large variety of carnivorous dinosaurs, which were bipedal. They ranged in size dramatically from small fast running coelurosaurs, to the larger slower carnosaurs.

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Sauropodomorphs

Sauropodomporphs are herbivores, and have a wide variety of dinosaurs the partially bipedal prosauropods, and the massive quadrapedal sauropods.

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Ornithischans

Ornithischans were all herbivores. They are divided into a series of different types. the ornithopoda, cerotopia, 'pachycephalosaurs', stegasauria, and ankylosauria.

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 Pictures used are from  Norman,  D. & Wellnhofer, P., The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs,  Salamander Books limited, London. 2000 pages 21,23

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