# Unenlagiidae

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Extinct family of dinosaurs

Unenlagiids Temporal range: Late Cretaceous PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Life reconstruction of Austroraptor cabazai Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Clade: Dinosauria Clade: Saurischia Clade: Theropoda Clade: Paraves Family: †Unenlagiidae Bonaparte, 1999 Type species †Unenlagia comahuensis Novas & Puerta, 1997 Subfamilies †Halszkaraptorinae? †Unenlagiinae Synonyms Unenlagiinia? Brum et al., 2021

**Unenlagiidae** is a proposed family of [eumaniraptoran paravians](/source/Paraves) that includes the subfamilies [Unenlagiinae](/source/Unenlagiinae) and possibly [Halszkaraptorinae](/source/Halszkaraptorinae). Fossils of both subfamilies have been found in both [Gondwanan](/source/Gondwana) and [Laurasian](/source/Laurasia) deposits. The biology of the group suggests that some members were semiaquatic specialists.[1]

## Classification

The family Unenlagiidae traditionally includes the same members as the previously named subfamily of [Dromaeosauridae](/source/Dromaeosauridae), [Unenlagiinae](/source/Unenlagiinae), so Unenlagiidae was often seen as a synonym of Dromaeosauridae. However, since the 2010s, there have been subsequent studies that have questioned this placement, necessitating the revival of the family name. Some have placed unenlagiids as outside Dromaeosauridae, being the sister taxon or closely related to [Avialae](/source/Avialae),[2][3] while others have placed the newly recognized [halszkaraptorines](/source/Halszkaraptorinae) in the family, as basal [deinonychosaurs](/source/Deinonychosauria) outside Dromaeosauridae and [Troodontidae](/source/Troodontidae).[4] Other recent studies supported the traditional placement of Halszkaraptorinae and Unenlagiinae in Dromaeosauridae, forming no distinct clade.[1][5] In 2021, Brum et al. named the clade **Unenlagiinia** for a unified *Unenlagia*+*Halszkaraptor* clade, recovering them as basal dromaeosaurs.[6]

The following cladogram is from Motta et al., 2020, showing Unenlagiidae outside dromaeosaurids and more closely related to Avialae:[3]

Paraves Troodontidae Eumaniraptora Dromaeosauridae Microraptoria Unenlagiidae Austroraptor Buitreraptor Unenlagia Overoraptor Rahonavis Avialae Archaeopterygidae Alcmonavis Wellnhoferia Archaeopteryx Anchiornithidae Xiaotingia Anchiornis Jeholornis Pygostylia

In 2025, Motta et al. recovered Unenlagiidae (along with [Halszkaraptoridae](/source/Halszkaraptorinae), [Anchiornithidae](/source/Anchiornithidae), and *[Archaeopteryx](/source/Archaeopteryx)*) as within [Avialae](/source/Avialae).[7] The two trees recovered are reproduced below:

**Consensus Improved (equal weighting)**

Pennaraptora Scansoriopterygidae Oviraptorosauria Paraves Troodontidae Eumaniraptora Dromaeosauridae Microraptoria Eudromaeosauridae Avialae Unenlagiinia Halszkaraptoridae Unenlagiidae Anchiornithidae Archaeopteryx Jeholornis Pygostylia

**Consensus Improved (implied weighting)**

Pennaraptora Scansoriopterygidae Oviraptorosauria Paraves Troodontidae Eumaniraptora Dromaeosauridae Microraptoria Eudromaeosauridae Avialae Unenlagiinia Halszkaraptoridae Unenlagiidae Anchiornithidae Fujianvenator Archaeopteryx Jeholornis Pygostylia

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cauetal2017_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cauetal2017_1-1) Cau, A.; Beyrand, V.; Voeten, D.; Fernandez, V.; Tafforeau, P.; Stein, K.; Barsbold, R.; Tsogtbaatar, K.; Currie, P.; Godrfroit, P. (6 December 2017). "Synchrotron scanning reveals amphibious ecomorphology in a new clade of bird-like dinosaurs". *[Nature](/source/Nature_(journal))*. **552** (7685): 395–399. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2017Natur.552..395C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017Natur.552..395C). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1038/nature24679](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fnature24679). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [29211712](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29211712). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [4471941](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:4471941).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-avianancestry_2-0)** Federico L. Agnolín and Fernando E. Novas (2013). *Avian ancestors. A review of the phylogenetic relationships of the theropods Unenlagiidae, Microraptoria,*Anchiornis*and Scansoriopterygidae*. SpringerBriefs in Earth System Sciences. pp. 1–96. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-94-007-5637-3](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-94-007-5637-3). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-94-007-5636-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-94-007-5636-6). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [199493087](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:199493087).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Overoraptor_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Overoraptor_3-1) Matías J. Motta; Federico L. Agnolín; Federico Brissón Egli; Fernando E. Novas (2020). "New theropod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia sheds light on the paravian radiation in Gondwana". *The Science of Nature*. **107** (3) 24. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2020SciNa.107...24M](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020SciNa.107...24M). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/s00114-020-01682-1](https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00114-020-01682-1). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[11336/135530](https://hdl.handle.net/11336%2F135530). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [32468191](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32468191). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [218913199](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:218913199).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hartmanetal2019_4-0)** Hartman, Scott; Mortimer, Mickey; Wahl, William R.; Lomax, Dean R.; Lippincott, Jessica; Lovelace, David M. (2019). ["A new paravian dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of North America supports a late acquisition of avian flight"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6626525). *PeerJ*. **7** e7247. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.7717/peerj.7247](https://doi.org/10.7717%2Fpeerj.7247). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [6626525](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6626525). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [31333906](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31333906).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Cau2020_5-0)** Cau, Andrea (2020-02-25). ["The body plan of Halszkaraptor escuilliei (Dinosauria, Theropoda) is not a transitional form along the evolution of dromaeosaurid hypercarnivory"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7047864). *PeerJ*. **8** e8672. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.7717/peerj.8672](https://doi.org/10.7717%2Fpeerj.8672). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2167-8359](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2167-8359). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [7047864](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7047864). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [32140312](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32140312).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Brum2021_6-0)** Brum, Arthur S.; Pêgas, Rodrigo V.; Bandeira, Kamila L.N.; Souza, Lucy G.; Campos, Diogenes A.; Kellner, Alexander W.A. (2021). "A new Unenlagiinae (Theropoda: Dromaeosauridae) from the Late Cretaceous of Brazil". *Papers in Palaeontology*. **7** (4): 2075–2099. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/spp2.1375](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fspp2.1375). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [238854675](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:238854675).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Motta2025_7-0)** Motta, Matías J.; Agnolína, Federico L.; Eglia, Federico Brissón; Rozadillaa, Sebastián; Novas, Fernando E. (22 Aug 2025). ["Phylogenetic relationships of Unenlagiidae among Paraves (Dinosauria)"](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2025.2529608). *Journal of Systematic Palaeontology*. **23** (1). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/14772019.2025.2529608](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F14772019.2025.2529608). Retrieved 22 August 2025.

v t e Maniraptora Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Clade: Dinosauria Clade: Theropoda Clade: Maniraptoriformes Avemetatarsalia see Avemetatarsalia Theropoda see Theropoda Maniraptora see below↓ Maniraptora Maniraptora †Elopteryx? †Fukuivenator? †Kakuru? †Migmanychion †Wyleyia? †Yaverlandia? †Alvarezsauroidea Achillesaurus Aorun? Bannykus Bonapartenykus Calamosaurus? Haplocheirus Patagonykus Shishugounykus Tugulusaurus? Xiyunykus Alvarezsauridae Achillesaurus? Alnashetri Alvarezsaurus Bonapartenykus? Bradycneme Heptasteornis Patagonykus? Parvicursorinae Dzharaonyx Jaculinykus Khulsanurus Kol? Manipulonyx Nemegtonykus Ondogurvel Parvicursor Qiupanykus Trierarchuncus Ceratonykini Albinykus Ceratonykus Xixianykus Mononykini Albertonykus Linhenykus Mononykus Shuvuuia †Therizinosauria Eshanosaurus? Falcarius Fukuivenator? Jianchangosaurus Lingyuanosaurus Therizinosauroidea Alxasaurus Beipiaosaurus Enigmosaurus Martharaptor Suzhousaurus Therizinosauridae Duonychus Erliansaurus Erlikosaurus Nanshiungosaurus Neimongosaurus Nothronychus Paralitherizinosaurus Segnosaurus Therizinosaurus Pennaraptora †Oviraptorosauria see Oviraptorosauria Paraves see below↓ Paraves Paraves †Changzhousaurus †Palaeopteryx? †Pneumatoraptor †Rahonavis †Scansoriopterygidae? Ambopteryx Epidexipteryx Scansoriopteryx Yi †Anchiornithidae Anchiornis Aurornis Caihong Eosinopteryx Fujianvenator Liaoningvenator? Ostromia Pedopenna Serikornis Xiaotingia Yixianosaurus †Archaeopterygidae Alcmonavis? Archaeopteryx Wellnhoferia Anchiornithidae? †Dromaeosauridae see Dromaeosauridae †Troodontidae see Troodontidae Avialae †Alcmonavis †Balaur? †Baminornis †Cretaaviculus? †Fukuipteryx †Overoraptor †Rahonavis? †Yandangornis †Zhengheornis †Zhongornis †Anchiornithidae? †Archaeopterygidae? †Scansoriopterygidae? †Jeholornithiformes Dalianraptor? Jeholornis Jixiangornis? Kompsornis Neimengornis Pygostylia †"Proornis" †Omnivoropterygidae? Omnivoropteryx Sapeornis †Confuciusornithidae Changchengornis Confuciusornis Eoconfuciusornis Yangavis †Jinguofortisidae Chongmingia Cratonavis Jinguofortis Ornithothoraces †Enantiornithes see Enantiornithes Euornithes see below↓ Euornithes Euornithes †Archaeorhynchus †Bellulornis †Brevidentavis †Changmaornis †Changzuiornis †Chaoyangia †Dingavis †Eogranivora †Gargantuavis? †Hollanda †Horezmavis †Jianchangornis †Jiuquanornis †Juehuaornis †Kaririavis †Kunpengornis †Meemannavis †Piscivoravis? †Platanavis †Vorona †Xinghaiornis †Yumenornis †Zhongjianornis †Schizoouridae Mengciusornis Schizooura †Patagopterygiformes Alamitornis Kuszholia? Patagopteryx †Ambiortiformes Ambiortus Apsaravis? Palintropus? †Hongshanornithidae Archaeornithura Hongshanornis Longicrusavis Parahongshanornis Tianyuornis †Songlingornithidae Hollanda? Songlingornis Yanornis? Yixianornis? †Yanornithidae Abitusavis Similiyanornis Yanornis †Gansuidae? Changzuiornis Gansus Hollanda? Iteravis Khinganornis Shuilingornis Ornithurae †Antarcticavis? †Apatornis †Cerebavis †Gallornis †Guildavis †Iaceornis †Kookne †Limenavis †Tingmiatornis †Ichthyornithes Ichthyornis Janavis †Hesperornithes Baptornis Brodavis Chupkaornis Enaliornis Judinornis Pasquiaornis Potamornis Hesperornithidae Asiahesperornis Canadaga Fumicollis Hesperornis Parahesperornis †Cimolopterygidae Ceramornis Cimolopteryx Lamarqueavis? Aves / Neornithes see below↓ Aves / Neornithes Palaeognathae see Palaeognathae Neognathae Neoaves Galloanserae Anserimorphae see Anserimorphae Pangalliformes see Pangalliformes Incertae sedis †Asteriornis †Perplexicervix †Qinornis? †Dromornithidae Barawertornis Dromornis Genyornis Ilbandornis †Gastornithiformes Brontornis? Gastornis Dromornithidae? †Pelagornithidae Aequornis Caspiodontornis Cyphornis Dasornis Gigantornis Laornis? Lutetodontopteris Macrodontopteryx Manu? Odontopteryx Osteodontornis Palaeochenoides Pelagornis Proceriavis? Protodontopteryx Protopelicanus? Pseudodontornis Tympanonesiotes See also: Archaeornithes Carinatae Deinonychosauria Odontognathae Odontornithes Sauriurae Unenlagiidae Category

Taxon identifiers Unenlagiidae Wikidata: Q98828563 Paleobiology Database: 264137

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Unenlagiidae](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unenlagiidae) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unenlagiidae?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.