Maniraptorans

Maniraptora (otherwise known as "hand snatchers") is a clade of Coelurosaurian Dinosaurs that includes the Birds and the non-Avian Dinosaurs that were more closely related to them than to Ornithomimus velox. It contains the major subgroups Avialae, Deinonychosauria, Oviraptorosauria and Therizinosauria. Ornitholestes and the Alvarezsauroidea are also often included. Together with the next closest sister group, the Ornithomimosauria, Maniraptora comprises the more inclusive clade Maniraptoriformes. Maniraptorans first appear in the fossil record during the Middle or Late Jurassic period, but with a possible Early Jurassic record with Eshanosaurus, and are regarded as surviving today as living Birds.