Noasauridae

Noasaurids Temporal range: Late Jurassic - Late Cretaceous, 164–66 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Reconstructed skeleton of Masiakasaurus knopfleri, Royal Ontario Museum
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Clade:	Dinosauria
Clade:	Saurischia
Clade:	Theropoda
Clade:	†Abelisauria
Family:	†Noasauridae Bonaparte & Powell, 1980
Subgroups
†Afromimus[1] †Berthasaura †Compsosuchus? †Deltadromeus? †Genusaurus? †Gualicho? †Kiyacursor[2] †Laevisuchus †Ligabueino? †Elaphrosaurinae[3] †Elaphrosaurus †Huinculsaurus †Limusaurus †Noasaurinae[3] †Masiakasaurus †Noasaurus †Velocisaurus †Vespersaurus
Synonyms
Velocisauridae Bonaparte, 1991

Noasauridae is an extinct family of theropod dinosaurs belonging to the group Ceratosauria. They were closely related to the short-armed abelisaurids, although most noasaurids had much more traditional body types generally similar to other theropods. Their heads, on the other hand, had unusual adaptations depending on the subfamily. 'Traditional' noasaurids, sometimes grouped in the subfamily Noasaurinae, had sharp teeth which splayed outwards from a downturned lower jaw.

The most complete and well-known example of these kinds of noasaurids was Masiakasaurus knopfleri from Madagascar.^[4] Another group, Elaphrosaurinae, has also been placed within Noasauridae by some studies.^[3] Elaphrosaurines developed toothless jaws and herbivorous diets, at least as adults.^[5]

The most complete and well known elaphrosaurine was Limusaurus inextricabilis. At least some noasaurids had pneumatised cervical vertebrae.^[6] Some are considered to have had cursorial habits.^[7] Noasauridae is defined as all theropods closer to Noasaurus than to Abelisaurus.^[8]