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Clade
Subclade

Taxon
Taxon
Allosauridae
Nominal Author
Marsh 1878
2nd Nominal Author
Taxon Status ACTIVE
Comments

Padian and Hutchinson (1997) provided a stem-based definition for Allosauridae, using Allosaurus and Sinraptor as specifiers, although mentioning that relationships among the various genera composing Allosauroidea was uncertain. To better contain this uncertainty, Sereno (1998) provided a first-order revision that included several other allosauroid genera as external specifiers that help to limit potential membership. Sereno (1998) did the same for two other clades within Allosauroidea (Sinraptoridae, Carcharodontosauridae) that are most often used in the literature. Padian et al. (1999) and Holtz (2000) did not cite this revision and repeated their earlier definition.

The active definition takes a middle road. Clearly, if relationships among the genera are as uncertain as Padian et al. (1999) described, then it would be better to exclude at least the specifying species of the two other allosauroid subclades (Sinraptor dongi, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus), leaving other species to fall where they will. In a recent summary (Holtz et al. 2004), the family (which is not defined) is shown as including only two genera (Allosaurus, Saurophaganax), but the relationships among several others within Allosauroidea (Carnosauria) is uncertain. To eliminate the possibility that coelurosaurians would be included (in the event that any of these specifiers is closer to Coelurosauria than to themselves—i.e., if Allosauroidea is not monophyletic), one additional external specifier is used (Passer domesticus). This is a first-order revision of the definition originally given by Padian et al. (1997).

Potential Synonomy

Active Phylogenetic Definition
Active Definition
The most inclusive clade containing Allosaurus fragilis Marsh 1877 but not Sinraptor dongi Currie and Zhao 1993, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus (Depéret and Savornin 1927), Passer domesticus (Linnaeus 1758).
Shorthand
> Allosaurus fragilis but not Sinraptor dongi, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus, Passer domesticus.
Definitional Author
Sereno 2005
Definition Status checked
Definition Type STEM
Node-Stem Triplet NO
Other Triplet Taxa
Specifiers
Specifier(s) A
Allosaurus fragilis
Specifier(s) B
Specifier(s) C
Sinraptor dongi, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus, Passer domesticus
Qualifiers
+Taxon
-Taxon
Datum
Taxonomic Content
Publication Year Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
1997

Inactive Taxon Status
Rejection Criteria
Critique
 

Definitional History #1
Earliest Record
Allosaurus and all Allosauroidea closer to it than to Sinraptor.
Latest Record
Padian and Hutchinson 1997:7
Range (My)
Range (My)
Allosaurus, Sinraptor
Range (My)

Definitional History #2
Earliest Record
All allosauroids closer to Allosaurus than to either Sinraptor, Monolophosaurus, Cryolophosaurus, or Carcharodontosaurus.
Latest Record
Sereno 1998:64
Range (My)
Range (My)
Allosaurus, Sinraptor, Monolophosaurus, Cryolophosaurus, Carcharodontosaurus
Range (My)

Definitional History #3
Earliest Record
Allosaurus fragilis and all taxa sharing a more recent common ancestor with it than with Sinraptor dongi or Carcharodontosaurus saharicus.
Latest Record
Holtz et al. 2004:102
Range (My)
Range (My)
Allosaurus fragilis, Sinraptor dongi, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus
Range (My)

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