The Ceratosauria split off early from the evolutionary line leading to modern birds, thus is considered basal within theropods. Ceratosauria itself contains a group of derived (nonbasal) members of the families Noasauridae and Abelisauridae, which are bracketed within the clade Abelisauroidea, as well as a number of basal members, such as "Elaphrosaurus", "Deltadromeus", and "Ceratosaurus". The position of "Ceratosaurus" within basal ceratosaurians is under debate. Some analyses considered "Ceratosaurus" as the most derived of the basal members, forming the sister taxon of the Abelisauroidea. Oliver Rauhut, in 2004, proposed "Genyodectes" as the sister taxon of "Ceratosaurus", as both genera are characterized by exceptionally long teeth in the upper jaw. Rauhut grouped "Ceratosaurus" and "Genyodectes" within the family Ceratosauridae, which was followed by several later accounts.