Could megaraptor be a spinosaur?

[[][][]cordylus[][][]]

Could megaraptor be a spinosaurid of some kind? Just wondering.

[stoneage]

Right now I believe it would be considered a primitive Tetanurine but once was classified a dromaeosaurid raptor until they figured out the giant claw didn't come from the foot but from the hand. It may eventually be classified as the last of the spinosaurids.

[sid]

It could be a Spinosaurid? Probably

[brad]

If Spinosauridae is the defined as the most inclusive clade containing Spinosaurus aegyptiacus Stromer 1915 but not Torvosaurus tanneri Galton and Jensen 1979, Allosaurus fragilis Marsh 1877, Passer domesticus (Linnaeus 1758), then Megaraptor is a spinosaurid according to the analysis of Smith et al. 2008 ("A Megaraptor-like theropod (Dinosauria: Tetanurae) in Australia"). However, it is outside of the Baryonychinae + Spinosaurinae clade that people usually think of as "spinosaurids."

[dinocraze]

I really don't think Megaraptor could be considered as a spinosaur since it lacks a sail on its back.

[stoneage]

Actually Spinosaurus has a sail but Spinosaurids don't have to have one. Baronyx and Suchomimus are Spinosaurids but don't have sails. The primary characteristics of this group are long crocodile like snouts and hugh cone-shaped teeth.

[stoneage]

Also Platyhystrix, Edaphosaurus, Dimetrodon and Ouranosaurus have sails but are not Spinosaurids.