coelurian

Coelurian is a proposed informal clade of theropod dinosaurs. The name Coeluria was first coined by paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope in 1881 to include a diverse group of dinosaurs that he believed were related. However, the modern understanding of Coeluria differs significantly from Cope's original concept. In contemporary paleontological discussions, Coeluria is often used as a informal grouping encompassing coelurosaurs and their immediate outgroups, or sometimes just as a less formal synonym for Coelurosauria.

Coelurosauria itself is a large and diverse group of theropod dinosaurs that includes birds and their closest extinct relatives. This group is characterized by a number of features, including a wishbone (furcula), relatively long arms, and often feathers. Major subgroups within Coelurosauria include tyrannosauroids, ornithomimosaurs, therizinosaurs, oviraptorosaurs, and maniraptorans, which in turn includes dromaeosaurs, troodontids, and birds.

The exact phylogenetic placement and definition of Coeluria remain subjects of ongoing research and debate among paleontologists. Different studies and analyses may propose slightly varying relationships and boundaries for such informal groupings, reflecting the dynamic nature of scientific understanding in paleontology. The term's usage often reflects a broader or slightly different interpretation than the strictly defined Coelurosauria, depending on the context of the research.