Dinosaurs are divided into two groups based on hip structure, the Order Ornithischia and the Order Saurischia.

The Saurischian dinosaurs (Order Saurischia) were the ancestors of birds. They had a hip structure similar to that of lizards. The Saurischians are divided into the Sauropods, four-legged herbivores, and the Theropods, two-legged carnivores. The oldest known dinosaurs, from the middle Triassic period, are Saurischians.

Major divisions of the Saurischian dinosaurs:

SAUROPODS Plant eaters Small heads with spatulate or pencil-shaped teeth Usually walked on four legs Largest land animals ever!

THEROPODS Led to the birds! Fast and agile Carnivorous diet Sharp, slicing teeth and well-developed jaw muscles Clawed hands with three main digits Bipedal walk Strong legs with bird-like, three-toed, clawed feet Hollow bones (like birds).

The following is a sampling of Saurischian dinosaurs.

Sauropodomorpha (4-legged herbivores)
Prosauropoda (4-legged herbivores)	Sauropoda (large, 4-legged herbivores)
MASSOSPONDYLUS	APATOSAURUS	DIPLODOCUS

Theropoda ("Beast-footed", 2-legged carnivores, evolved into the birds)
ALBERTOSAURUS	ALLOSAURUS	GIGANOTOSAURUS carolinii
TYRANNOSAURUS rex	UNENLAGIA comahuensis	VELOCIRAPTOR

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