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In addition to Madagascar, noasaurids are known from Europe, India, South America, and Africa, spanning at least Aptian - Albian through Maastrichtian time. The new materials of Masiakasaurus increase character resolution within Abelisauroidea, identifying many formerly equivocal features as synapomorphies of the nodes Noasauridae, Abelisauridae, or Abelisauroidea. Unfortunately, the fragmentary nature of nearly all other noasaurids obviates any meaningful ingroup resolution, and as a result no particular evolutionary or biogeographic scenarios for the clade can presently be supported (or rejected) with confidence.

In addition to Madagascar, noasaurids are known from Europe, India, South America, and Africa, spanning at least Aptian - Albian through Maastrichtian time. The new materials of Masiakasaurus increase character resolution within Abelisauroidea, identifying many formerly equivocal features as synapomorphies of the nodes Noasauridae, Abelisauridae, or Abelisauroidea. Unfortunately, the fragmentary nature of nearly all other noasaurids obviates any meaningful ingroup resolution, and as a result no particular evolutionary or biogeographic scenarios for the clade can presently be supported (or rejected) with confidence.