Full reference: K. Carpenter, C. A. Miles, and K. C. Cloward. 2005. New small theropod from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation of Wyoming. The Carnivorous Dinosaurs. Indiana University Press, Bloomington 23-48
Parent taxon: Coelurosauria according to J. N. Choiniere et al. 2010
Sister taxa: Alvarezsauria, Aniksosaurus, Aorun, Bicentenaria, Bressanichnus, Britoichnium, Coelurus, Columbosauripus, Compsognathidae, Compsognathus, Defarrariischnium, Halticosauridae, Ignotornis, Juravenator, Lapparentichnus, Lourinhanosaurus, Maniraptora, Maniraptoriformes, Nedcolbertia, Ngexisaurus, Ornitholestes, Ornithomimipus, Plesiothornipus, Proceratosaurus, Richardoestesia, Satapliasaurus, Segisauridae, Shensipus, Sinosauropteryx, Taupezia, Tugulusaurus, Tyrannosauroidea, Xinjiangovenator, Zuolong
Subtaxa: Tanycolagreus topwilsoni
Ecology: ground dwelling carnivore