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The tyrannosaurids were a family of dinosaurs whose name is derived from the Greek words trannos, meaning tyrant; and sauros, meaning lizard. This is because they were originally believed to be vicious killers.
Tyrannosaurids were originally classified as carnosaurs, along most of the rest of the large theropods. But contrary to previous beliefs, recent phylogenetic studies have determined that tyrannosaurids are coelurosaurs, a group which also includes the ornithomimids and the maniraptors. Thus, they are more closely related to dromaeosaurs and birds, than they are to other large predatory dinosaur groups like the allosaurs.
All members of this family are strictly carnivorous. According to some paleontologists they were slow runners due to their size, and likely scavenged some of their food. However, their large teeth would allow for the quick and easy destruction of the thick armour plating on ankylosaurs. Most paeontologists contend that they were rather agile toppredators.
All tyrannosaurids are easily characterized by their large, thickly built back legs, on which they walked, and scrawny, short front ones.
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