Full reference: J. A. Gauthier. 1986. Saurischian monophyly and the origin of birds. The Origin of Birds and the Evolution of Flight, K. Padian (ed.), Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences 8:1-55
Parent taxon: Maniraptora according to U. Lefevre et al. 2014
See also Clarke and Chiappe 2001, Gao and Liu 2005, Gauthier 1986, Godefroit et al. 2013, Holtz 2000, Maryanska et al. 2002, Novas 1996, Novas 1997, Padian et al. 1999, Perle et al. 1994, Perle et al. 1993, Rauhut et al. 2019, Wang et al. 2020 and Zhang et al. 2008
Sister taxa: Anchiornithidae, Migmanychion, Montanoolithidae, Oviraptorosauria, Palaeopteryx, Paraves, Pseudogeckoolithus, Scansoriopterygidae, Yixianosaurus
Subtaxa: Alcmonavis Archaeopterygidae Archaeopteryx Aurornis Dalianraptor Fujianvenator Fukuipteryx Jeholornithiformes Llerdopteryx Llerdopteryx viai Ornithothoraces Wellnhoferia Wyleyia Wyleyia valdensis
Ecology: ground dwelling carnivore