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Clade
Subclade

Taxon
Taxon
Abelisauridae
Nominal Author
Bonaparte and Novas 1985
2nd Nominal Author
Taxon Status ACTIVE
Comments

Abelisauridae was first defined by Novas (1997) and Sereno (1998) as a node-based taxon. Wilson et al. (2003) presented a second-order revision of Abelisauridae as a stem-based taxon in opposition to the stem-based taxon Noasauridae, which came to be recognized as its sister taxon. The advantage of a stem-based definition of Abeliauridae is that it forms a stable node-stem triplet, identifying a major dichotomy in the history of the Abelisauroidea. As a node-based taxon, in contrast, Abelisauridae would have excluded the recently described basal member Rugops (Sereno et al. 2004). Taxonomists appear to have followed this arrangement, regarding Rugops as an abelisaurid.

The active definition, thus, is a first-order revision of that stem-based definition, which uses species. The revised definition also cites for exclusion two additional species (Coelophysis bauri, Passer domesticus) that ensure stabiliy of the taxonomic content of Abelisauridae, should abelisaurids be placed elsewhere among basal theropods.

Padian (1999) and Tykoski and Rowe (2004) have followed the initial definitions of Novas (1997) and Sereno (1998). Tykoski and Rowe (2004), nonetheless, were unaware of the earlier second-order revision by Wilson et al. (2003).

Potential Synonomy
Abelisauria

Active Phylogenetic Definition
Active Definition
The most inclusive clade containing Carnotaurus sastrei Bonaparte 1985 but not Noasaurus leali Bonaparte and Powell 1980, Coelophysis bauri (Cope 1889), Passer domesticus (Linnaeus 1758).
Shorthand
> Carnotaurus sastrei but not Noasaurus leali, Coelophysis bauri, Passer domesticus.
Definitional Author
Sereno 2005
Definition Status checked
Definition Type STEM
Node-Stem Triplet STEM
Other Triplet Taxa
Abelisauroidea, Noasauridae
Specifiers
Specifier(s) A
Carnotaurus sastrei
Specifier(s) B
Specifier(s) C
Noasaurus leali, Coelophysis bauri, Passer domesticus
Qualifiers
+Taxon
-Taxon
Datum
Taxonomic Content
Publication Year Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
2003

Inactive Taxon Status
Rejection Criteria
Critique
 

Definitional History #1
Earliest Record
Previously listed taxa [Abelisaurus comahuensis, Carnotaurus sastrei, Xenotarsosaurus bonapartei, Indosaurus matleyi, Indosuchus raptorius, Majungasaurus crenatissimus] and all descendants of their common ancestor.
Latest Record
Novas 1997:1
Range (My)
Range (My)
Abelisaurus comahuensis, Carnotaurus sastrei, Xenotarsosaurus bonapartei, Indosaurus matleyi, Indosuchus raptorius, Majungasaurus crenatissimus
Range (My)

Definitional History #2
Earliest Record
Abelisaurus, Carnotaurus, their most recent common ancestor and all descendants.
Latest Record
Sereno 1998:64
Range (My)
Range (My)
Abelisaurus, Carnotaurus
Range (My)

Definitional History #3
Earliest Record
Carnotaurus, Abelisaurus, and all descendants of their most recent common ancestor.
Latest Record
Padian et al. 1999:70
Range (My)
Range (My)
Carnotaurus, Abelisaurus
Range (My)

Definitional History #4
Earliest Record
The most inclusive clade containing Carnotaurus sastrei but not Noasaurus leali.
Latest Record
Wilson et al. 2003:30
Range (My)
Range (My)
Carnotaurus sastrei, Noasaurus leali
Range (My)

Definitional History #5
Earliest Record
Abelisaurus comahuensis and Carnotaurus sastrei and all descendants of their most recent common ancestor.
Latest Record
Tykoski and Rowe 2004:64
Range (My)
Range (My)
Abelisaurus comahuensis, Carnotaurus sastrei
Range (My)

Definitional History #6
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Definitional History #7
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Definitional History #8
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Definitional History #9
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Definitional History #10
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