Dromaeosaurinae

Dromaeosaurines
Temporal range: Cretaceous
Reconstructed skull of Dromaeosaurus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Clade: Saurischia
Clade: Theropoda
Family: Dromaeosauridae
Clade: Eudromaeosauria
Subfamily: Dromaeosaurinae
Matthew & Brown 1922
Type species
Dromaeosaurus albertensis
Matthew & Brown 1922
Genera

Dromaeosaurinae is a subfamily of the theropod group Dromaeosauridae. The earliest dromaeosaurine is Utahraptor, dating back to the Early Cretaceous in North America. Some isolated teeth seems to represent an indeterminate species of dromaeosaurine, coming from the Late Jurassic in Africa, which could potentially push their range to an earlier time period.

Most dromaeosaurs are small carnivores, however, dromaeosaurines are represented by some of the largest species (Achillobator, Dakotaraptor, Utahraptor). So far, Dakotaraptor is the only dromaeosaurine with evidence of quill knobs, indicating a plumage; based on this, other members likely had them.