The hand is quite distinct from other basal tetanurans, so it was not initially clear whether "Megaraptor" was an allosaurid, a carcharodontosaurid, a spinosauroid, or something else entirely. Subsequent studies, as well as the identification of close relatives with similar large claws on the forelimbs (see below), helped identify "Megaraptor" as a highly advanced and lightly built allosauroid, and a member of the family Neovenatoridae. More recent studies have proposed that "Megaraptor" and its kin are actually tyrannosauroids or spinosauroids as opposed to allosauroids. A juvenile specimen described in 2014 has provided more evidence towards "Megaraptor" being a primitive tyrannosauroid. The discovery of "Gualicho" indicates that "Megaraptor" may not be a tyrannosauroid, but either an allosauroid or basal coelurosaur.