Saurischians

Dinosaurs are sorted into two groups, which are identified by their hips. One group were called Saurischian (meaning' lizard-hipped') because they had a pelvis that was more like that of a lizard.

This can be confusing because birds are actually related to the Saurischian (lizard-hipped) dinosaurs and not the Ornithischian dinosaurs.

Saurischian dinosaurs were divided into two sub-groups:

• Sauropods - the big four legged vegetarians
• Theropods - two legged carnivores, the group that included, coelurosaurs, the ancestors of the birds.

The pelvic structure is similar to a lizard's, with the pubis pointing forwards.

• Tetrapod

• Reptile

• Diapsid

• Ornithischian

• Saurischian