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Family ranges through time

Each row is one apex-predator family. The bar spans the period from its earliest to its latest known apex representative in our dataset. Dots along the bar are the individual species. Inspired by Zanno & Makovicky (2013).

Family
Late Triassic
237–201
Early Jurassic
201–174
Middle Jurassic
174–163
Late Jurassic
163–145
Early Cretaceous
145–100
Late Cretaceous
100–66
Count
Dinosaurs
37
Herrerasauridae
3
Dilophosauridae
1
Early Tetanurae
2
Megalosauridae
2
Allosauridae
1
Ceratosauridae
1
Carcharodontosauridae
5
Neovenatoridae
1
Spinosauridae
5
Tyrannosauroidea
1
Coelurosauria
1
Megaraptora
2
Abelisauridae
6
Tyrannosauridae
6
Other terrestrial reptiles
4
Phytosauria
1
Rauisuchia (Pseudosuchia)
1
Pholidosauridae
1
Alligatoroidea
1
Marine reptiles & sharks
12
Ichthyosauria
3
Hybodontiformes (shark)
1
Pliosauroidea
4
Cretoxyrhinidae (shark)
1
Anacoracidae (shark)
1
Mosasauridae
2
240 Ma
220 Ma
200 Ma
180 Ma
160 Ma
140 Ma
120 Ma
100 Ma
80 Ma
66 Ma
Late Triassic
237–201
Early Jurassic
201–174
Middle Jurassic
174–163
Late Jurassic
163–145
Early Cretaceous
145–100
Late Cretaceous
100–66
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
66
Land
Herrerasauridae 3
Dilophosauridae 1
Early Tetanurae 2
Megalosauridae 2
Allosauridae 1
Ceratosauridae 1
Carcharodontosauridae 5
Neovenatoridae 1
Spinosauridae 5
Tyrannosauroidea 1
Coelurosauria 1
Megaraptora 2
Abelisauridae 6
Tyrannosauridae 6
Croc
Phytosauria 1
Rauisuchia (Pseudosuchia) 1
Pholidosauridae 1
Alligatoroidea 1
Sea
Ichthyosauria 3
Hybodontiformes (shark) 1
Pliosauroidea 4
Cretoxyrhinidae (shark) 1
Anacoracidae (shark) 1
Mosasauridae 2
Tap a dot to see the species. Tracks scroll horizontally.
24 families ● land family marine family (italic) Dashed outline = species to add
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