TABLE 1. List of unambiguous dental synapomorphies in 40 theropod clades illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 and based on a data matrix of 145 dental characters coded in 97 saurischian taxa.
| Clade | Unambiguous dental synapomorphy |
| 1. Eoraptor + Theropoda | Character 4: partial overlap of the first and second premaxillary alveoli in palatal view |
| 2. Dracovenator + Neotheropoda | Characters 15, 120: slightly constricted premaxillary tooth row in palatal view; braided oriented enamel surface texture not clearly visible with light |
| 3. Liliensternus + Dilophosaurus + Averostra | Character 31: first dentary tooth/alveolus substantially smaller than second and third dentary teeth/alveoli |
| 4. Dilophosaurus + Averostra | Characters 56: 14 to 19 mid-crown denticles per five millimeters on the distal carina (DC) of mesial teeth in subadults/adults |
| 5. Averostra | Character 15: unconstricted premaxillary tooth row in palatal view |
| 6. Abelisauroidea | Characters 8, 9, 45, 46, 51: mesial and distal premaxillary teeth subequal in size than the first six mesial maxillary teeth (or alveoli); salinon-shaped outline of basal cross-section of the crown in the mesialmost tooth; concave surfaces adjacent to the mesial distal carina on the lingual side of the mesial teeth; mesial carina extends to the cervix or just above it in mesial teeth |
| 7. Ceratosauridae | Characters 5, 69, 94: overlap of the second and third premaxillary alveoli in palatal view; largest crown in subadults/adults higher than six centimeters; subquadrangular mesial denticles at two-thirds of the crown in lateral teeth |
| 8. Noasauridae | Characters 31, 40: first dentary tooth/alveolus subequal size in than second and third dentary alveoli; largest crown in subadults/adults shorter than one centimeter |
| 9. Abelisauridae | Characters 3, 4, 13, 25, 91, 99: premaxillary alveoli all mesio-distally oriented; no overlap of the first and second premaxillary alveoli in palatal view; subrectangular premaxillary and maxillary alveoli; distal denticles hooked and apically inclined from distal margin in lateral teeth |
| 10. Megalosauroidea | Character 82: mesial carina extending to base of crown or slightly above the cervix in lateral teeth |
| 11. Piatnitzkysauridae | Characters 19, 104, 108, 112, 113: 18 to 19 maxillary teeth/ alveoli; distal denticles larger than mesial ones in lateral crowns (DSDI > 1.2); short and poorly developed interdenticular sulci between mid-crown denticles on the distal carina in lateral teeth; tenuous and numerous transverse undulations on the crown surface of lateral teeth |
| 12. Megalosauria | Character 53: mesial carina facing labially in mesialmost teeth |
| 13. Megalosauridae | Character 28: fewer than 15 dentary teeth/alveoli |
| 14. Megalosauridae more derived than Sciurumimus | Characters 5, 56, 108, 109: overlap of the second and third premaxillary alveoli in palatal view; nine to 13 denticles per five millimeters on the distal carina at mid-crown in mesial teeth; short and poorly developed interdenticular sulci between basal and mid-crown denticles on the distal carina in lateral teeth |
| 15. Spinosauridae | Characters 2, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 22, 23, 25, 30, 33, 45, 51, 63, 70, 76, 82, 110, 141, 142: more than six premaxillary teeth; distal premaxillary teeth smaller than mesial premaxillary teeth; mesial premaxillary and maxillary teeth subequal in size; second premaxillary tooth/alveolus significantly smaller than third and fourth tooth/alveolus; distalmost premaxillary tooth significantly smaller than more mesial teeth; premaxillary teeth anterior to external naris; strongly lateromedially constricted premaxillary tooth rows; first maxillary tooth/alveolus significantly smaller than second tooth/alveolus; procumbent mesial maxillary teeth; subcircular maxillary alveoli; mesialmost dentary teeth significantly larger than more distal ones; terminal rosette of the dentary bearing four teeth; outline of the basal cross-section of mesial teeth subcircular; mesial carina extending well-beneath the cervix in mesial teeth and to the base of crown or slightly above the cervix in lateral teeth; flutes present on the lingual surface of mesial teeth; distal margin of lateral teeth convex, with apex centrally positioned; CBR > 0.75 in lateral teeth; subcircular cross-sectional outline of lateral teeth; flutes on both lingual and labial sides of lateral teeth; root strongly tapered apically and oval to subcircular in cross-section at mid-root |
| 16. Avetheropoda | Characters 41, 50, 51: labiolingual compression of the crown weak (0.75 < CBR < 1.2, tooth subcircular) in mesial teeth; mesial carina of mesial teeth slightly twisted, curves onto the mesiolingual surface; mesial carina extends to the cervix or slightly above it in mesial teeth |
| 17. Allosauroidea | Characters 5, 46, 55, 56, 87, 94, 108, 112: overlap of the second and third premaxillary alveoli in palatal view; concave surface on the labial and lingual surfaces adjacent to the distal and mesial and distal carinae, respectively, in mesial teeth; nine to 13 mesial and distal denticles per five millimeters in mesial teeth, and nine to 15 in the mesial carina of lateral teeth; subquadrangular mesial denticles at two-thirds height of crown in lateral teeth; short and poorly developed interdenticular sulci between distal denticles at mid-crown in lateral teeth; tenuous or well-visible transverse undulations on the crown surface of lateral teeth |
| 18. Metriacanthosauridae | Characters 74, 120: surface centrally positioned on the labial surface of the crown roughly flattened in lateral teeth; irregular and non-oriented enamel surface texture |
| 19. Allosauria | Characters 9, 109: distal premaxillary teeth/alveoli subequal in size than the first six mesial maxillary teeth/alveoli; short and poorly developed interdenticular sulci in basal denticles of the distal carina |
| 20. Neovenatoridae | Characters 22, 74, 75: first maxillary tooth significantly smaller than second maxillary tooth; surface centrally positioned on the labial surface of the crown roughly flattened in lateral teeth; concave surface adjacent to the distal carina on the labial and lingual surfaces, in lateral teeth |
| 21. Carcharodontosauridae | Characters 45, 46, 97: subcircular, ovoid or elliptical outline of basal cross-section of the crown in the mesialmost tooth; concave surface adjacent to the carina absent in mesial teeth; biconvex mesial denticles |
| 22. Coelurosauria | Characters 56, 87, 104: more than 20 distal denticles at mid-crown and more than 30 mesial denticles at two-thirds height of the crown in mesial and lateral teeth, respectively; distal denticles larger than mesial ones in lateral crowns (DSDI > 1.2) |
| 23. Tyrannosauroidea + Neocoelurosauria | Character 95: mid-crown denticles (DC) on distal carina as long mediodistally as apicobasally, subquadrangular, in lateral teeth |
| 24. Tyrannosauroidea | Characters 5, 6, 30, 50, 52, 54: overlap of the second and third as well as third and fourth premaxillary alveoli in palatal view; mesialmost dentary teeth significantly smaller than mid- and distal dentary teeth; mesial carina of mesial teeth strongly twisted, curving onto the lingual surface; distal carina of mesial teeth strongly labially deflected and facing mostly lingually |
| 25. Pantyrannosauria | Characters 3, 42, 45, 50, 56, 87: all premaxillary alveoli labio-lingually oriented; important baso-apical elongation of the crown (2.5 < CHR ≤ 3) in mesial teeth; U-shaped outline of basal cross-section of the crown in the mesialmost tooth; mesial carina almost straight and strongly lingually deflected in mesial teeth; fewer than 20 distal denticles per five millimeters at mid-crown in the mesial dentition of subadults/adults, and fewer than 30 mesial denticles per five millimeters at two-thirds height in the lateral dentition |
| 26. Tyrannosauridae | Character 4: overlap of the first and second premaxillary alveoli in palatal view almost complete |
| 27. Neocoelurosauria | Characters 49, 84: unserrated distal carina in mesial teeth; distal carina extends well-above the cervix in lateral teeth |
| 28. Compsognathidae + Maniraptoriformes | Characters 45, 120: subcircular outline of basal cross-section of the crown in the mesialmost tooth; smooth or irregular non-oriented enamel surface texture of the crown |
| 29. Compsognathidae | Characters 22, 43, 140: First maxillary tooth significantly smaller than second maxillary tooth; strongly distally recurved mesial teeth; root with convex mesial and distal margins, root significantly larger than base crown |
| 30. Maniraptoriformes | Characters 19, 44, 70, 72, 76: more than 19 maxillary teeth; distal margin of the mesial crowns straight in lateral view; weak (i.e., CBR > 0.75) labiodistal compression of the lateral crowns; margin of crown convex, so that the crown apex of lateral teeth is centrally positioned; subcircular cross-sectional outline at the base crown in lateral teeth |
| 31. Ornithomimosauria | Characters 18, 25, 26, 73: maxillary teeth absent in the anteriormost and/or most of the posterior portion of the maxilla; maxillary alveoli merged to form an open groove; distalmost maxillary tooth aligned to the anteroventral rim of the antorbital fenestra; mesial margin of lateral teeth slightly convex, almost straight |
| 32. Alvarezsauroidea + Maniraptora | Character 32: mid-dentary teeth/alveoli subequal in size than mesial maxillary teeth/alveoli |
| 33. Maniraptora | Character 140: root with convex margins, root significantly larger than crown base |
| 34. Therizinosauria | Characters 67, 77, 101, 103: important constriction at the cervix in lateral teeth, base of crown occupying 85% or less of largest crown width; mesial carina present in lateral teeth; lower number of denticles apically than at the mid-crown on the mesial and distal carinae in lateral teeth |
| 35. Pennaraptora | Characters 19, 25, 142: fewer than 19 maxillary teeth/alveoli; oval to lenticular maxillary alveoli; 8-shaped outline of mid-root in cross-section |
| 36. Oviraptorosauria | Character 27: teeth absent in the anteriormost portion of the dentary |
| 37. Paraves | Character 72: distal margin of lateral crown slightly concave, roughly straight, or straight, apex positioned at the same level as distal profile |
| 38. Dromaeosauridae | Characters 45, 67, 72: D-shaped or J-shaped cross-sectional outline of the base crown in mesial teeth; constriction between crown and root absent in lateral teeth; distal margin of lateral crown strongly concave |
| 39. Troodontidae | Characters 20, 29, 39: mesial maxillary teeth significantly smaller than distal maxillary teeth; dentary alveoli merged to form an open groove; constriction between crown and root present in all lateral teeth |
| 40. Avialae | Characters 8, 19, 28: mesial premaxillary teeth subequal in size than the first six mesial maxillary teeth; fewer than ten maxillary teeth; fewer than 15 dentary teeth |
TABLE 2. p-values of the t-test and Mann-Whitney U-test (M-W) for CI and RI values between dental and no-dental characters in five datasets of the theropod skeleton. Significantly similar values between dental and non-dental sets of characters are bolded.
| Dataset | Clade | t-test, ci | t-test, ri | M-W, ci | M-W, ri |
| Brusatte et al. (2014) | Non-avian Coelurosauria | 2.14E-10 | 4.67E-14 | 6.77E-10 | 2.26E-15 |
| Carrano et al. (2012) | Non-coelurosaur Tetanurae | 2.29E-09 | 5.42E-13 | 4.61E-10 | 1.03E-12 |
| Choiniere et al. (2014a) | Non-avian Theropoda | 0.22025 | 7.31E-07 | 0.4483 | 2.01E-07 |
| Foth and Rauhut (2017) | Non-avian Coelurosauria | 0.001355 | 1.66E-07 | 0.006778 | 1.69E-07 |
| Lee et al. (2014a) | Non-avian Theropoda | 0.014723 | 2.43E-08 | 0.096904 | 2.71E-08 |
| Rauhut and Carrano (2016) | Ceratosauria | 5.47E-09 | 1.99E-10 | 4.15E-08 | 5.93E-10 |
| Tortosa et al. (2014) | Ceratosauria | 0.015288 | 0.0088158 | 0.018854 | 0.0077152 |
| Wang et al. (2017a) | Non-avian Theropoda | 0.0027452 | 9.99E-08 | 0.0005687 | 2.19E-08 |
TABLE 3. Distribution of dental features in non-avian theropods and their hypothetical functionality, adaptation or causes.
| Dental feature | Distribution | Possible functionality, adaptation or causes |
| Ziphodonty | Ornitholestes, non-alvarezsaurid Alvarezsauroidea, Dromaeosauridae, and non-maniraptoriform theropods other than Allosaurus, Austroraptor, Spinosauridae and Tyrannosauridae | Slashing, cutting flesh and defleshing (carnivory) |
| Folidonty | Pelecanimimus and all other Maniraptoriformes other than Ornitholestes, Aorun, Haplocheirus, Ornithomimosauria and Dromaeosauridae | Puncturing, tearing apart and shredding fibrous plant fodder and/or small prey (herbivory/omnivory or carnivory) |
| Pachydonty | Allosaurus and mature Tyrannosauridae | Bone-crunching (hypercarnivory) |
| Conidonty | Spinosauridae, Ornithomimosauria (Pelecanimimus excluded), Caudipteridae and Austroraptor | Piercing and impaling slippery prey (piscivory), or raking vegetation (herbivory); precursor of a rhamphotheca |
| Basal constriction | Chilesaurus, Pelecanimimus and non-dromaeosaurid Maniraptora, with the exclusion of non-alvarezsaurid Alvarezsauroidea, Oviraptorosauria and some Therizinosauria such as Falcarius and Erlikosaurus for the whole dentition; Masiakasaurus, Majungasaurus, Chenanisaurus, Proceratosaurus, Ornitholestes and Halszkaraptor for mesial teeth; Carcharodontosaurinae, Microraptor, Fukuivenator, Falcarius, Erlikosaurus, Incisivosaurus / Protarchaeopteryx and possibly Scansoriopterygidae for lateral teeth | |
| CBR > 0.75 | Spinosauridae, Allosauridae, Tyrannosauridae, Ornithomimosauria, Alvarezsauroidea, Therizinosauria, and Troodontidae for both mesial and lateral teeth | Crown strength (resisting higher stresses in different directions) |
| CHR > 60mm | Non-neocoelurosaur Averostra with the exclusion of Abelisauroidea, Piatnitzkysauridae and possibly Baryonychinae, Neovenatoridae and Proceratosauridae | Allometric feature |
| Unserrated crown | Limusaurus, Spinosaurinae and Maniraptoriformes other than non-alvarezsaurid Alvarezsauroidea, Therizinosauria, Incisivosaurus, derived Troodontidae, Microraptorinae, Eudromaeosauria and possibly Epidexipteryx for the whole dentition; Sciurumimus, some Coelophysoidea, basal Tyrannosauroidea and Microraptorinae, and most Compsognathidae for mesial teeth; Aorun, Ornitholestes and some Compsognathidae and Dromaeosauridae for lateral teeth | Crown simplification |
| Unserrated mesial carina, serrated distal carina | Many theropods from most clades for mesial teeth; Sciurumimus, some megaraptorans, Ornitholestes, Compsognathidae, basal Alvarezsauroidea, a few Dromaeosauridae and many derived Troodontidae for lateral teeth | Crown simplification |
| Concave surface adjacent to carinae | Abelisauroidea, Allosaurus, Tyrannosauroidea and many Paraves for mesial teeth; some non-neotheropod Saurischia, Ceratosauridae, non-spinosaurid Megalosauroidea, Metriacanthosauridae, Neovenatoridae and Therizinosauria for lateral teeth | Increase in enamel surface, better penetration and withdrawal |
| J-shaped cross-section | Abelisauroidea, basal Tyrannosauroidea, most non-carcharodontosaurid Allosauroidea, and some Eudromaeosauria for mesial teeth; Masiakasaurus and some Troodontidae for lateral teeth | Crown strength with linguodistal cutting edges |
| Salinon-shaped cross-section | Abelisauroidea, Allosauridae and some Troodontidae for mesial teeth; some Troodontidae for lateral teeth | Crown strength with mesiodistal cutting edges |
| D-shaped cross-section | Metriacanthosauridae, Allosauridae, some Noasauridae, Abelisauridae and Megaraptora, Ornitholestes, Pelecanimimus, Halszkaraptor ? and some Troodontidae for mesial teeth | Crown strength with mesiodistal cutting edges |
| U-shaped cross-section | Zuolong, Ornitholestes and most Pantyrannosauria for mesial teeth | Crown strength with lingual cutting edges |
| Figure-8-shaped cross-section | Berberosaurus, Metriacanthosauridae, some Megaraptora, Tyrannosauroidea and Troodontidae, and most Dromaeosauridae | Crown strength, better penetration and withdrawal? |
| Mesial carina reaching the cervix | In some, if not all, mesial and/or lateral teeth of non-averostran Saurischia, Ceratosauria, Piatnitzkysaurus, Torvosaurus, Spinosauridae, Allosauroidea (excluding most Neovenatoridae), Pantyrannosauria, Eudromaeosauria and Troodon | Crown cutting along the whole crown height leading to deeper wounds |
| Twisted mesial carina | Dilophosaurus, Masiakasaurus, Allosauroidea, basal Tyrannosauroidea, and some Abelisauridae and Dromaeosauridae for mesial teeth only; Piatnitzkysaurus, Allosauridae, and some Tyrannosauroidea, Therizinosauria and Dromaeosauridae for lateral teeth | Slicing flesh on the crown width causing wide cuts and open wounds (predatory lifestyle?) |
| Split carina | Allosauroidea, Tyrannosauroidea, Segnosaurus, and Dromaeosauridae | Trauma, aberrant tooth replacement or genetic factors |
| Distal carina strongly deflected labially | Ceratosauridae, Masiakasaurus, Allosaurus, Sinraptor, Tyrannosauroidea and Dromaeosaurus for the mesial and some lateral teeth; Monolophosaurus, Deinonychus, Richardoestesia and several basal Saurischia, Carcharodontosauria and Dromaeosauridae for mesial teeth; Saltriosaurus, Berberosaurus, Arcovenator, Piatnitzkysauridae and Neovenatoridae for some lateral teeth | Causing wide cuts and open wounds, possibly gripping function (predatory lifestyle?) |
| Hooked denticles | Eoraptor, Gojirasaurus, Abelisauroidea, Therizinosauroidea, Eudromaeosauria, Troodontidae (including Anchiornithinae) | Slicing flesh, gripping function, possibly removing feather/fur |
| Small number of large denticles on the carina | Therizinosauroidea, Troodontidae, Incisivosaurus, Microraptor and Paronychodon | Slicing through resistant structures such as fibrous material (herbivory/omnivory) |
| Large number of minute denticles on the carina | Baryonychinae | Tooth simplification, precursor of unserrated crown |
| Sporadic variation of denticle size | Baryonychinae, Nuthetes, Segnosaurus and Richardoestesia | Denticle reduction due to tooth simplification |
| Bilobate denticles | Abelisauridae, Megalosauridae, Erectopus, Carcharodontosauridae, Tyrannosauridae | Trauma or genetic factor? |
| Distal denticles larger than mesial denticles | Non-averostran theropods, Ceratosaurus, Noasauridae, Abelisauridae, Piatnitzkysauridae, Baryonychinae, Allosaurus, Acrocanthosaurus, basal Coelurosauria, non-tyrannosaurid Tyrannosauroidea, juvenile Tyrannosauridae, non-unenlagiine Dromaeosauridae, and Troodontinae | Piercing or slicing function? |
| Convex distal profile of the crown | Abelisauridae, Ceratosaurus, Spinosaurinae, Ornithomimosauria, Alvarezsauroidea, Therizinosauria, and Oviraptorosauria | Crown strength |
| Fluted crowns | Tawa, Coelophysis (juveniles), Masiakasaurus, Spinosauridae, an undescribed metriacanthosaurid and Austroraptor for most of/all the dentition; Ceratosaurus, Scipionyx and Velociraptor for the mesial dentition; Sinosaurus, Dilong and most Microraptorinae for the lateral dentition | Piercing, gripping and keeping slippery prey |
| Transverse undulations | Eodromaeus, Dracovenator, non-neocoelurosaur Averostra, Falcarius, many eudromaeosaurians and a few derived troodontids; non-neocoelurosaur Averostra when numerous and covering most of the crown | Suction minimization, crown strength, or byproduct of growth |
| Marginal undulations | Ceratosaurus, Abelisauridae, non-neocoelurosaur Tetanurae | Suction minimization, crown strength, or byproduct of growth |
| Interdenticular sulci | Tawa, non-neocoelurosaur Averostra, Falcarius, many eudromaeosaurians and a few derived troodontids | Distributing stresses and/or preventing suction, possibly hosting septic bacteria or helping entrance of venom |
| Longitudinal ridges | Allosaurus, Tyrannosauroidea, Microraptorinae for mesial teeth; Orkoraptor, Alvarezsauroidea, Therizinosauria and Paraves for lateral teeth | Crown strength, venom delivery system? |
| Longitudinal groove | Abelisauridae, Paraves | Crown strength, venom delivery system? |
| Basal striations | Herrerasauridae, Proceratosaurus | Crown strength, byproduct of growth? |
| Irregular enamel texture | Herrerasauridae, Eoraptor, Liliensternus, Sinosaurus, Abelisauroidea (Masiakasaurus excluded), Erectopus, Irritator, Allosaurus, Metriacanthosauridae, Tyrannosaurinae and most of non-dromaeosaurid Neocoelurosauria | Crown strength |
| Braided enamel texture | Non-abelisaurid Ceratosauria, non-spinosaurid Megalosauroidea, Carcharodontosauria, Aorun, Segnosaurus and most non-averostran Theropoda, non-neocoelurosaur Coelurosauria and Eudromaeosauria | Crown strength |
| Veined and anastomosed enamel texture | Incisivosaurus for the premaxillary dentition; Spinosauridae for the whole dentition | Crown strength for particularly high stresses |
| Procumbent premaxillary teeth | Daemonosaurus, Masiakasaurus, Chilesaurus, Similicaudipteryx, Ornitholestes, Epidexipteryx, Archaeopteryx | Procumbency: prehension of small to medium-sized prey and/or vegetation (possibly branch raking/stripping) |
| Procumbent maxillary teeth | Dracovenator, Coelophysoidea, Dilophosaurus, Masiakasaurus, Spinosauridae, and Scipionyx for mesial maxillary teeth; Similicaudipteryx, Epidexipteryx, Archaeopteryx and possibly Chilesaurus and Nqwebasaurus for the whole maxillary dentition | |
| Procumbent dentary teeth | Herrerasaurus, Daemonosaurus, Daliansaurus, Megapnosaurus, Masiakasaurus, Duriavenator, Spinosaurus, Ornitholestes, Haplocheirus, Incisivosaurus, and some Tyrannosauroidea and Dromaeosauridae for mesial dentary teeth; Chilesaurus, Shenzhousaurus, Similicaudipteryx and Epidexipteryx for the whole dentary dentition | |
| Laterocumbent and retrocumbent teeth | Spinosaurinae (laterocumbent teeth); Eoraptor, some Coelophysoidea and basalmost Neotheropoda, and juvenile Limusaurus (retrocumbent premaxillary teeth); Panguraptor, Sciurumimus and several Dromaeosauridae (retrocumbent maxillary teeth) | Hold and keep struggling and/or slippery prey, or keep an immobile bite |
| Partial/complete premaxillary edentulism | Partial: Limusaurus (juvenile), Caudipteryx; Complete: Therizinosauroidea, Caenagnathoidea, and Ornithomimosauria more derived than Pelecanimimus | Edentulism: paralleled with the development of a rhamphotheca and gastric mill, weight saving demands, abandon of carnivory (herbivory or omnivory) |
| Partial/complete maxillary edentulism | Partial/anteriormost portion of the maxilla: Limusaurus (juvenile) and Erlikosaurus; Partial/posterior portion of the maxilla: Limusaurus (juvenile), basalmost ornithomimosaurs (i.e., Nqwebasaurus, Pelecanimimus), Shuvuuia, Erlikosaurus, Similicaudipteryx, many troodontids, and Epidexipteryx; Complete: Caudipteryx + Caenagnathoidea, and Ornithomimosauria more derived than Pelecanimimus | |
| Partial/complete dentary edentulism | Partial/anteriormost portion of the dentary: Limusaurus (juvenile), Therizinosauroidea, and non-caenagnathoid Oviraptorosauria; Partial/posterior portion of the dentary: Limusaurus (juvenile), non-ornithomimoid ornithomimosaurs more derived than Pelecanimimus, Similicaudipteryx, and possibly Protarchaeopteryx and all Scansoriopterygidae; Complete: Caudipteryx + Caenagnathoidea, Ornithomimoidea | |
| Complete edentulism | All theropods more derived than Eodromaeus for the pterygoid; Limusaurus, Ornithomimoidea and Caenagnathoidea for the whole skull |
TABLE 4. Most conspicuous dental features in 31 theropod clades. Dental features for important subclades and taxa are also provided in brackets. *small crowns in comparison to the upper and lower jaws’ height.
| Clade | Dental features |
| Non-neotheropod Theropoda | Small to medium-sized ziphodont dentition; subcircular cross-section of mesial crowns; mesial carina of mesialmost crowns, when present, facing labially and not reaching the cervix; dentary teeth weakly to strongly procumbent; mesial carina, when present, straight and reaching the cervix in some lateral teeth; mesialmost basal striations on the crown (Herrerasaurus); procumbent premaxillary teeth (Daemonosaurus); fluted mesial and lateral teeth (Tawa) |
| Coelophysoidea | Mesialmost teeth unserrated or with unserrated mesial carina; mesial dentition and mesial maxillary dentition with slender, elongated and strongly recurved (i.e., strongly concave distal profile) teeth; diastema between premaxillary and maxillary teeth; constricted tooth-row between premaxilla and maxilla; retrocumbent premaxillary teeth; procumbent mesial maxillary teeth; procumbent mesial dentary teeth (Megapnosaurus and some Coelophysis specimens); fluted mesial and lateral teeth (juvenile Coelophysis) |
| Non-averostran Neotheropoda (Liliensternus, Zupaysaurus, Sinosaurus, Dracovenator, and Dilophosaurus) | Mesial dentary teeth significantly larger than mid- and posterior dentary teeth; terminal rosette of dentary with four to five teeth; mesial carina of mesial teeth denticulated, facing labially and extending basally well-above the cervix; mesial carina of mesial teeth centrally positioned or slightly labially deflected from the mesial margin of the crown; retrocumbent premaxillary teeth; procumbent mesial maxillary teeth; mesial carina of mesial teeth reaching the cervix in some lateral teeth; DSDI>1.2 (Dracovenator and Dilophosaurus) |
| Non-abelisauroid Ceratosauria (Berberosaurus, Saltriovenator, and Ceratosauridae) | Mesial carina of mesial teeth restricted to the apical portion of the crown and facing labially in mesialmost teeth; lateral dentition with a few strongly labiolingually compressed crown (CBR<0.4); mid-maxillary teeth taller than the dentary height; mesial and lateral crowns with a strongly labially deflected distal carina; labial surface of the crown weakly convex, almost flat, in some lateral teeth; mesial carina of lateral teeth extends to the cervix or slightly above it; concave surface(s) on the lingual and/or labial sides and adjacent to the mesial and/or distal carinae in some crowns; mesial teeth with fluted lingual surfaces (Ceratosaurus) |
| Abelisauridae | Mesial carina reaching the cervix in mesial and lateral teeth; distal profile of crown weakly concave, straight or convex; lateral teeth with mesial and distal carinae on the mid-line of the mesial and distal profile, respectively; irregular enamel surface texture; subrectangular premaxillary and maxillary alveoli; Salinon to J-shaped cross-sectional outline of mesial teeth in most taxa; apically hooked distal denticles in some taxa |
| Noasauridae | Crown height lower than 2 cm; irregular enamel surface texture; mesial carina of lateral teeth reaching the cervix, DSDI>1.2 (Noasaurinae); procumbent mesial dentition, mesial dentary teeth basally constricted, fluted and with a salinon-shaped cross-sectional outline (Masiakasaurus, possibly in Noasaurinae); flutes, hooked distal denticles and constriction between crown and root in some lateral teeth (Masiakasaurus); unserrated teeth and partial edentulism in juveniles, complete edentulism in adults (Limusaurus, possibly in Elaphrosaurinae) |
| Piatnitzkysauridae | Mesial teeth mesiodistally short and elongated, with a lenticular cross-sectional outline at the cervix; mesialmost teeth with a mesial carina facing labially; DSDI>1.2; mesial carina extending above the cervix in mesial and most lateral teeth; distal carina strongly deflected labially, enamel undulations and short to well-developed interdenticular sulci between distal denticles in some teeth; braided enamel texture; hooked distal denticles and mesial carina spiraling mesiolingually and reaching the root in some lateral crowns (Piatnitzkysaurus) |
| Megalosauridae | Mesial teeth mesiodistally short and elongated, with a lenticular cross-sectional outline at the cervix; mesialmost teeth with a mesial carina facing labially; mesial carina extending well-above the cervix in mesial and lateral teeth; short to well-developed interdenticular sulci in between distal denticles in some teeth; braided enamel texture; transverse/marginal undulations in some teeth in most taxa; bilobate mesial denticles and well-visible transverse undulations in some lateral crowns (Megalosaurinae) |
| Spinosauridae | Conidont dentition; strong allometric heterodonty along the premaxillary, maxillary and dentary dentitions, with the largest crowns bore mesially; more than 5 premaxillary teeth; procumbent mesial maxillary teeth; terminal rosette of dentary with four to five teeth; mesial carina reaching the cervix, and extending on part of the root, in most/all teeth; fluted mesial and lateral teeth; veined/anastomosed enamel surface texture; enamel curving basally adjacent to the carinae; large number of minute denticles changing sporadically in size along the carinae (Baryonychinae); unserrated and beaded carinae, laterocumbent teeth, and distal profile of crowns weakly concave, straight or convex (Spinosaurinae) |
| Metriacanthosauridae | Mesial and distal crowns with denticulated mesial and distal carinae extending to the root; D- to salinon-shaped cross-sectional outline at the crown-base in mesialmost teeth; mesial crowns with mesial carinae spiraling mesiolingually and lingually positioned longitudinal groove adjacent to the mesial carina; lateral teeth with flat to concave labial depressions at the crown-base (8-shaped cross-sectional outline of some lateral teeth); short to well-developed interdenticular sulci between distal denticles; irregular enamel surface texture |
| Allosauridae | Pachydont dentition; mesial and distal crowns with denticulated mesial and distal carinae extending to the root, and well-beneath the cervix in some teeth; mesial crowns with lingually positioned longitudinal groove adjacent to the mesial carina; D- to J- and salinon-shaped cross-sectional outline at the crown-base in mesialmost teeth; mesial teeth and mesial maxillary crowns with mesial carinae spiraling mesiolingually; mesial and most lateral teeth with strongly labially deflected distal carina; marginal and transverse undulations well-visible on some crowns; short to well-developed interdenticular sulci in lateral teeth; dentition with a combination of irregular and braided enamel surface texture |
| Neovenatoridae (with Megaraptora) | J-shaped cross-section of mesial teeth with concave surface adjacent to mesial carina on the lingual surface of the crown; concave surfaces on the labial/lingual surfaces and adjacent to the distal carina in some lateral crowns; braided enamel surface texture; mesial carina absent and figure-8-shaped cross-section of lateral crowns (Megaraptor and Orkoraptor) |
| Carcharodontosauridae | Subcircular cross-section in mesialmost teeth; mesial carina of mesial teeth facing labially and not reaching the cervix; mesialmost teeth with strongly labially displaced distal carina; lateral crowns higher than 6 cm; DSDI<0.9 in lateral teeth; mesial carina reaching the cervix in some/most lateral crowns; well-visible marginal and/or transverse undulations in some lateral teeth; short to well-developed interdenticular sulci in lateral teeth; braided enamel surface texture; bilobate mesial denticles in many taxa; weakly sigmoid distal profile with basal half concave and apical half convex (Carcharodontosauridae more derived than Acrocanthosaurus); weak constriction between crown and root in some lateral teeth (Carcharodontosaurinae) ; pronounced marginal undulations adjacent to mesial and distal carinae in lateral teeth (Carcharodontosaurus saharicus) |
| Non-tyrannosaurid Tyrannosauroidea | Mesial teeth significantly smaller than lateral teeth; J- to U-shaped cross-sectional outline of mesial teeth; concave surface adjacent to mesial carina in mesial teeth; DSDI>1.2 in most taxa; some lateral crowns with a strongly labially deflected distal carina and a mesial carina extending above the cervix; interdenticular sulci between distal denticles in some lateral crowns; braided enamel surface texture; basal striations in mesial teeth (Proceratosaurus) |
| Tyrannosauridae | Pachydont dentition; mesial teeth with U-shaped cross-sectional outline and longitudinal ridge centrally positioned on lingual surface; CBR>1.2 in mesial teeth; transitional dentition with spiraling mesial carina and strongly labially deflected distal carina; short to well-developed interdenticular sulci in some teeth; irregular enamel texture and teeth with split mesial carinae in some taxa |
| Compsognathidae | Ziphodont dentition; teeth lower than 1 cm; conidont mesial/mesialmost teeth; distal denticulated carina not reaching the cervix and/or the apex in some lateral teeth; unserrated mesial dentition and lateral dentition with unserrated mesial carina in most taxa; retrocumbent premaxillary teeth (Juravenator); mesial denticulated carina (Sinocalliopteryx) |
| Ornithomimosauria | Unserrated crowns; small crowns*, with crown height lower than 1 cm; conidont dentition made of subsymmetrical isodont crowns (all ornithomimosaurs but Pelecanimimus); posterior portions of maxilla and dentary edentulous (non-ornithomimoid ornithomimosaurs); premaxilla and maxilla fully edentulous (ornithomimosaurs more derived than Pelecanimimus); complete edentulism (Ornithomimoidea); D-shaped mesialmost teeth, constricted mesial and lateral teeth (Pelecanimimus) |
| Alvarezsauroidea (Aorun, Haplocheirus, and Alvarezsauridae) | Crown height lower than 1 cm; small crowns*; unserrated mesial teeth; closely packed mesial and lateral dentition with subsymmetrical (i.e., mesial and distal profiles convex), unserrated and weakly constricted isodont crowns (Alvarezsauridae/Parvicursorinae); faint longitudinal grooves on the apex (Mononykus) |
| Therizinosauria | Folidont dentition made of subsymmetrical isodont crowns with convex mesial and distal profiles; crown height lower than 1 cm; small crowns*; mesial and distal serrated carinae never reaching the cervix; partially edentulous dentary; edentulous premaxilla, mesial and distal serrated carinae extending above the cervix, small number of large typically apically oriented mesial and distal denticles (Therizinosauroidea); Incisiform mesial teeth with a D-shaped cross section, minute denticles, twisted mesial carina, transverse undulations, and longitudinal ridges in some/all lateral teeth (Falcarius); split distal carina, sporadic variation of denticles size, conidont distalmost dentary dentition (Segnosaurus) |
| Oviraptorosauria | Conidont mesial dentition; strong allometric heterodonty, with mesial teeth significantly larger than distal teeth; unserrated mesial crowns; lateral dentition with crown height lower than 1 cm; folidont lateral dentition (Incisivosaurus and Similicaudipteryx); anastomosed enamel surface texture in mesial teeth (Incisivosaurus); partial premaxillary edentulism and complete maxillary and dentary edentulism (Caudipteryx); procumbent maxillary and dentary teeth (Similicaudipteryx); complete edentulism (Caenagnathoidea) |
| Halszkaraptorinae and Unenlagiinae | Large number of small crowns*; unserrated and strongly distally recurved crowns; irregular and non-oriented enamel surface texture; ridged/fluted lateral teeth (Unenlagiinae); ziphodont lateral crowns (Halszkaraptorinae and Unenlagiinae other than Austroraptor); weakly labiolingually compressed lateral teeth (Halszkaraptorinae and Unenlagiinae other than Buitreraptor); more than five closely packed premaxillary teeth and D-shaped mesial teeth (Halszkaraptor /possibly Halszkaraptorinae); conidont dentition, mesial dentary teeth significantly larger than distal ones (Austroraptor); strongly labiolingually compressed lateral teeth with 8-shaped cross-sectional outline at the crown-base (Buitreraptor) |
| Microraptorinae | Ziphodont dentition whose mesial and lateral dentitions include some unserrated crowns; some mesial teeth with a concave surface on the lingual surface and adjacent to the mesial carina; mesial carina not reaching the cervix; some lateral crowns with unserrated mesial carina and fluted/ridged labial surface; labial depression on the crown-base in some lateral teeth; DSDI>1.2 in lateral teeth (all microraptorines other than Microraptor); some constricted crowns in the mesial and lateral dentitions, unserrated mesial carina, and small number of distal denticles in some lateral crowns (Microraptor) |
| Dromaeosaurinae | Ziphodont teeth with serrated mesial and distal carinae in all lateral teeth; J-shaped mesial teeth; mesial dentition with serrated mesial carina spiraling mesiolingually and extending close to the cervix; transverse undulations in some teeth; DSDI>1.2 in lateral teeth (all dromaeosaurines other than Dromaeosaurus); DSDI ≈ 0 or < 0.9, twisted mesial carina in lateral teeth (Dromaeosaurus); retrocumbent maxillary teeth, hooked denticles (Atrociraptor); procumbent dentary teeth (Utahraptor) |
| Velociraptorinae | Ziphodont dentition with serrated mesial and distal carinae in at least some lateral teeth, DSDI > 1.2, mesial carina not reaching the cervix in most lateral teeth (all velociraptorines other than Tsaagan); some lateral teeth with a figure-of-eight-shaped cross-sectional outline of the crown-base (all velociraptorines other than Deinonychus); many taxa with ridged lateral crowns (e.g., Bambiraptor, Velociraptor, Linheraptor, Acheroraptor); some taxa with retrocumbent maxillary teeth (e.g., Bambiraptor, Deinonychus); mesial carina absent/unserrated in all teeth (Tsaagan); hooked distal denticles (Saurornitholestes); mesialmost teeth with fluted labial surface (Velociraptor) |
| Anchiornithinae | Folidont dentition with weakly to strongly distally recurved crowns; crown height lower than 1 cm; mesial dentition unserrated; mesial dentary teeth closely packed; teeth from middle and distal portion of the lateral dentition sparsely spaced; small crowns* (anchiornithines other than Caihon g); unserrated lateral teeth (anchiornithines other than Caihong and Liaoningvenator); mesial denticles and apically hooked denticles in some lateral teeth (Caihong) |
| Jinfengopteryginae | Folidont dentition with fully unserrated teeth; mesial teeth closely packed; small crowns*; dentary teeth resting in an open alveolar groove; posterior portion of maxilla edentulous; dentition with some unconstricted teeth (Jinfengopteryx) |
| Troodontinae | Folidont dentition with distally recurved crowns in the central and distal portions of the lateral dentition; D- to salinon-shaped mesial dentition; mesial teeth closely packed; dentary teeth resting in an open alveolar groove; fully unserrated dentition in many taxa (e.g., Mei, Xixiasaurus, Urbacodon, Gobivenator, Byronosaurus); heterodont lateral dentition made of folidont and ziphodont crowns in many basal forms (e.g., Xixiasaurus, Sinovenator, Jianianhualong. Byronosaurus); some lateral teeth with a small number of large distal denticles in derived forms (e.g., Sinornithoides, Troodon, Zanabazar, Saurornithoides); mesial denticulated carina (Troodon, Pectinodon); interdenticular sulci and transverse undulations in some teeth (Troodon) |
| Scansoriopterygidae | Conidont dentition; unserrated teeth; strong allometric heterodonty, with mesial teeth significantly larger than distal ones; procumbent premaxillary and dentary teeth; maxilla and dentary partially edentulous |
