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The 'Deinonychosauria' ("fearsome claw lizards") were a successful clade of theropods in the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. These carnivores are known for their switchblade-like second toes. The clade has been divided into two further clades — Dromaeosauridae and Troodontidae.
Dromaeosauridae includes some of the most fearsome killers of the Cretaceous Period: ''Deinonychus'', ''Velociraptor'', and ''Utahraptor''. The largest known of these was possibly ''Utahraptor'', and ''Microraptor'' was among the smallest (40 cm or 16 in).
Troodontids date from the late Cretaceous Period and were lighter and slimmer than the dromaeosaurids. Some of these were ''Troodon'' and ''Saurornithoides''.
By some definitions, Deinonychosauria and Dromaeosauridae are synonyms.

Contents

Classification

Classification

★ Clade Maniraptora

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★ Clade Paraves/Eumaniraptora

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★ ''Pedopenna''

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★ 'Infraorder Deinonychosauria'

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★ Family Troodontidae

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★ Family Dromaeosauridae