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Paleognaths
Fossil range: Paleocene - Recent
A kiwi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Subclass: Carinatae
Infraclass: Neornithes
Superorder: Paleognathae
Pycraft, 1900
Orders

Primary Classification

Alternate Classification


see text for more info
Synonyms

Palaeognathia Huxley, 1867

The Paleognathae or paleognaths ("old jaws") are one of the two living superorders of birds. The Paleocene or Palaeocene, "early dawn of the recent" is a geologic epoch that lasted from 65 KIWI (1029 FM, "Radio Lobo" is a commercial Radio station located in McFarland California, broadcasting to the Bakersfield California Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. In Phylogenetic taxonomy the Carinatae are considered the last common ancestor of Neornithes (living Birds and Ichthyornis (an extinct Modern birds (subclass Neornithes) are the members of class Aves that have survived into recent times and have coexisted with Humans Modern birds are William Plane Pycraft (1868 - 1942 was an English osteologist The Moa were ten species (in six genera of flightless Birds endemic to New Zealand. Elephant birds are an extinct family of Flightless Birds comprising the genera Aepyornis and Mullerornis. A ratite is any of a diverse group of large Flightless birds of Gondwanan origin most of them now extinct The rheas are species of flightless Ratite Birds in the genus Rhea, native to South America. The bird family Casuariidae has four surviving members the three Species of Cassowary, and the only remaining species of Emu. KIWI (1029 FM, "Radio Lobo" is a commercial Radio station located in McFarland California, broadcasting to the Bakersfield California The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of Bird, members of a South American Bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera A ratite is any of a diverse group of large Flightless birds of Gondwanan origin most of them now extinct The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of Bird, members of a South American Bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera In Scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different Scientific names used for a single Taxon. Thomas Henry Huxley PC FRS (4 May 1825 – 29 June 1895 was an English Biologist, known as "Darwin's Bulldog" for his advocacy This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. The other living superorder is Neognathae. Neognaths ( Neognathae) are Birds within the Subclass Neornithes of the class Aves.

The paleognaths contain several living orders of birds, the Tinamiformes (tinamous), the Apterygiformes (kiwis), Casuariiformes (cassowaries and emus), Rheiformes (rheas), and the Struthioniformes (ostriches). This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of Bird, members of a South American Bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera KIWI (1029 FM, "Radio Lobo" is a commercial Radio station located in McFarland California, broadcasting to the Bakersfield California Cassowaries ( Genus Casuarius) are very large flightless Birds native to the Tropical forests of New Guinea and The Emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae, is the largest Bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the Genus The rheas are species of flightless Ratite Birds in the genus Rhea, native to South America. The Ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large Flightless bird native to Africa (and formerly the Middle East) All but the tinamous are flightless. There are also many extinct orders: the Lithornithiformes, the Ambiornithiformes, the Gansuiformes, the Paleocursornithiformes, the Dinornithiformes (moas), and the Aepyornithiformes (elephant birds)

Most paleognaths have long necks and long legs, and are specialized for running rather than flight; indeed, the ratites are all completely flightless (with the partial exception of the tinamous). The Moa were ten species (in six genera of flightless Birds endemic to New Zealand. Elephant birds are an extinct family of Flightless Birds comprising the genera Aepyornis and Mullerornis. The group is not separated because of this though, it is rather based on the form of the jaw. Paleognaths other than tinamous are commonly known as ratites from the Latin word for raft, ratis, because they have a breastbone shaped like a raft. A ratite is any of a diverse group of large Flightless birds of Gondwanan origin most of them now extinct

Contents

Anatomy & Characteristics of Paleognath Birds

Ratite birds are the easiest birds to distinguish - they are mostly large, flightless, have extended necks, a breastbone shaped like a raft (with the exception of tinamous), they have a simpified wing bone structure, strong legs, and no feather vanes, making it unnecessary to oil their feathers. And as a direct result of this they have no preen gland that contains preening oil. Ratite sizes range from 10 inches (25 centimeters) to 9 feet (2. 7 meters) and weight can be from 2. 86 pounds (1. 3 kilograms) to 345 pounds (155. 25 kilograms). Ostriches are the largest struthioniforms (members of the Struthioniformes order), with long legs and neck. They range in height from 5. 7 to 9 feet (1. 8 to 2. 7 meters) and weigh from 139 to 345 pounds (63 to 157 kilograms). They have loose-feathered wings. Males have black and white feathers while the female has grayish brown feathers. Emus are about 6. 5 feet in height and weigh 51 to 120 pounds (23 to 55 kilograms). They have long, strong legs and can run up to 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour). They have short wings and the adults have brown feathers. Rheas are 4. 5 to 5. 6 feet (1. 3 to 1. 7 meters) and weigh 55 to 88 pounds (24. 75 to 40 kilograms). Their feathers are gray or spotted brown and white. Cassowaries are 3. 3 to 5. 6 feet (1 to 1. 7 meters) in height and weigh 30 to 130 pounds (14 to 59 kilograms). They have tiny wings with black feathers. Kiwis are the smallest of ratites, ranging in height from 14 to 22 inches (35 to 55 centimeters) and weight 2. 6 to 8. 6 pounds (1. 2 to 3. 9 kilograms). They have brown and black hair-like feathers. The tinamous have a keeled breastbone (shaped like a wishbone) and can fly. They range in size from 8 to 21 inches (20 to 53 centimeters) and weigh 1. 4 ounces to 5 pounds (43 grams to 2. 3 kilograms). The basic anatomy of ratites is simple in principle and there are few exceptions to the rules stated.

Evolution

Paleognaths probably descended from a common ancestor in the late Cretaceous period on the supercontinent of Gondwana. The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of In Geology, a supercontinent is a Landmass comprising more than one Continental core or Craton. Gondwana (ɡɒnˈdwɑːnə originally Gondwanaland) was a southern Supercontinent that existed about 500 to 200 Ma ago As the continents separated several forms of paleognaths reached different parts of the world, to support this idea all the continents where living (ostrich, cassowary, kiwi, tinamous, emu, and the rhea) and various fossil forms are found were connected during the late Cretaceous. The Ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large Flightless bird native to Africa (and formerly the Middle East) Cassowaries ( Genus Casuarius) are very large flightless Birds native to the Tropical forests of New Guinea and KIWI (1029 FM, "Radio Lobo" is a commercial Radio station located in McFarland California, broadcasting to the Bakersfield California The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of Bird, members of a South American Bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera The Emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae, is the largest Bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the Genus The rheas are species of flightless Ratite Birds in the genus Rhea, native to South America. FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. Recent genetic evidence seems to also point towards this theory, DNA shows that they may not be descended from one common ancestor, but two or more. Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) is a Nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known The results also show that ratites probably didn't lose the ability to fly until the middle Eocene. The Eocene epoch (558 ± 02 - 339 ± 01 Ma) is a major division of the Geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Palaeogene period in Many similarites in morphology and genetic analysis show that there is probably no convergent evolution between ratite birds. The term morphology in Biology refers to the outward appearance ( Shape, Structure, Colour, Pattern) of an Organism Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages Currently, there is no exact way to say where, why, or when the paleognaths diverged.

Systematics and taxonomy

As told in the Evolution section of this article, the exact evolutionary history of the paleognaths is unresolved presently. Despite this many taxonomists try to place them in the grand scheme of the Aves. Taxonomy is the practice and science of classification The word comes from the Greek, taxis (meaning 'order' 'arrangement' and, nomos Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. As a result two main branches developed, they are shown in the classification part below.

Early Taxonomy

Initially the ratites were placed in a single group Ratita. Later it was realized that they were too different to be placed in a single order, so they were split into the several orders in the infobox at the top of this article. Then they were split into two orders, the Struthioniformes and the Lithioniformes. Although the first classification is adopted in this article, either one is commonly used in sources.

Classification

Order Lithornithiformes (fossil)

Order Dinornithiformes - moa (prehistoric/extinct)

Order Aepyornithiformes - elephant birds (prehistoric/extinct)

Order Struthioniformes - ostriches

Order Rheiformes

Order Casuariiformes

Order Apterygiformes - kiwis

Order Tinamiformes - tinamous

Alternate classification

Sometimes placed here

Paraphysornis is a phorusrhacid. FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. The Moa were ten species (in six genera of flightless Birds endemic to New Zealand. Prehistoric birds are various taxa of Birds that became Extinct before recorded History, or more precisely before they could be studied In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa. The Moa were ten species (in six genera of flightless Birds endemic to New Zealand. The giant moa ( Dinornis) is an extinct genus of Ratite birds belonging to the Moa family The Eastern Moa, Emeus crassus, is an extinct species of Moa. Anomalopteryx didiformis is an extinct bird genus known colloquially as the Lesser or Bush Moa. Pachyornis is an Extinct Genus of Ratites from New Zealand which belonged to the Moa family Elephant birds are an extinct family of Flightless Birds comprising the genera Aepyornis and Mullerornis. Prehistoric birds are various taxa of Birds that became Extinct before recorded History, or more precisely before they could be studied In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa. Elephant birds are an extinct family of Flightless Birds comprising the genera Aepyornis and Mullerornis. Elephant birds are an extinct family of Flightless Birds comprising the genera Aepyornis and Mullerornis. Elephant birds are an extinct family of Flightless Birds comprising the genera Aepyornis and Mullerornis. A ratite is any of a diverse group of large Flightless birds of Gondwanan origin most of them now extinct The Ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large Flightless bird native to Africa (and formerly the Middle East) The Ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large Flightless bird native to Africa (and formerly the Middle East) Palaeotis is a Palaeognath bird from the Eocene epoch. Originally it was thought to be a bustard hence its name ( Palaeotis means ancient bustard FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. The Ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large Flightless bird native to Africa (and formerly the Middle East) The rheas are species of flightless Ratite Birds in the genus Rhea, native to South America. FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. Opisthodactylus is an Extinct Genus of rhea from the Miocene. Diogenornis is an extinct genus of Ratite from the Paleocene. The rheas are species of flightless Ratite Birds in the genus Rhea, native to South America. Heterorhea is an extinct genus of Ratite. Sources The Origin and Evolution of Birds by Alan Feduccia FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. Hinasuri is an Extinct Genus of rhea from the Pliocene. Its fossils have been found in Argentina. FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. The rheas are species of flightless Ratite Birds in the genus Rhea, native to South America. Darwin's Rhea ( Rhea pennata) also known as the Lesser Rhea, is the smaller of the two extant species of rhea. Darwin's Rhea ( Rhea pennata) also known as the Lesser Rhea, is the smaller of the two extant species of rhea. The bird family Casuariidae has four surviving members the three Species of Cassowary, and the only remaining species of Emu. The bird family Casuariidae has four surviving members the three Species of Cassowary, and the only remaining species of Emu. Cassowaries ( Genus Casuarius) are very large flightless Birds native to the Tropical forests of New Guinea and The bird family Casuariidae has four surviving members the three Species of Cassowary, and the only remaining species of Emu. Emuarius is an Extinct Genus of flightless Bird from Australia that lived during the early Miocene and late Oligocene FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. Dromaius is a genus of Ratite present in Australia There is one extant species Dromaius novaehollandiae commonly known as the Emu In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa. KIWI (1029 FM, "Radio Lobo" is a commercial Radio station located in McFarland California, broadcasting to the Bakersfield California KIWI (1029 FM, "Radio Lobo" is a commercial Radio station located in McFarland California, broadcasting to the Bakersfield California KIWI (1029 FM, "Radio Lobo" is a commercial Radio station located in McFarland California, broadcasting to the Bakersfield California In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa. The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of Bird, members of a South American Bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of Bird, members of a South American Bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera The tinamous are one of the most ancient groups of Bird, members of a South American Bird family of about 47 species in 9 genera Crypturellus is a genus of Tinamous Species Berlepsch's Tinamou, Crypturellus berlepschi Tinamus is a genus of Birds in the Tinamou family This genus comprises some of the larger members of this South American family Nothocercus is a genus of Birds in the Tinamou family This genus comprises three members of this South American family The Dwarf Tinamou ( Taoniscus nanus) also known as the Least Tinamou, is a small Partridge -like bird with short tail and wings Tinamotis is a genus of Birds in the Tinamou family The species are Puna Tinamou, Tinamotis pentlandii Eudromia is a genus of Birds in the Tinamou family This genus comprises two crested members of this South American family Rhynchotus is a genus of Birds in the Tinamou family This genus comprises two members of this South American family Nothoprocta is a Genus of Birds belonging to the Tinamou family Tinamidae Nothura is a genus of Birds in the Tinamou family This genus comprises five members of this South American family Nothura is a genus of Birds in the Tinamou family This genus comprises five members of this South American family Ambiortus is a prehistoric Bird Genus. The only known Species, Ambiortus dementjevi, lived about 120 million years Gansus is a Genus of aquatic Birds that lived during the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous period (around 110 million Limenavis is a prehistoric Bird Genus from the Late Cretaceous. Palaeocursornis is a Monotypic genus of prehistoric Bird. The species P Wyleyia is a prehistoric Bird Genus with a single Species, Wyleyia valdensis, known from the Early Cretaceous of Paraphysornis is an Extinct Genus of giant flightless Predatory Birds of the family Phorusrhacidae or "terror Phorusrhacids ("Rag-Bearers" or terror birds, were a family of large Carnivorous Flightless birds that were the dominant

Ootaxa

Locomotion

Many of the larger ratite birds have extremely long legs and the largest living bird, the ostrich, can run at speeds over 60 km/h. An ichnotaxon (plural ichnotaxa) is defined by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature as "a Taxon based on the fossilized work of an organism" The Ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large Flightless bird native to Africa (and formerly the Middle East) And cassowaries, emus, and rheas show a similar likeness in agility and some extinct forms may have reached speeds of 75 km/h. Moas, the largest birds, had legs over 3 feet high and may have been the fastest land animals to live outrunning even the cheetah. The cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus) is an atypical member of the cat family ( Felidae) that is unique in its speed while lacking climbing abilities

Reconstruction of two moa species, Otago Museum, Dunedin. Otago Museum holds the world's largest collection of moa remains.
Reconstruction of two moa species, Otago Museum, Dunedin. The Otago Museum is situated in Dunedin, New Zealand It is Otago's largest cultural and heritage institution with a collection of over two million artefacts and specimens Dunedin (dəˈneɪdɪn) Ōtepoti in Maori is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the region of Otago Museum holds the world's largest collection of moa remains.

Paleognaths and humans

Paleognaths probably first interacted with Australopithecines about 3 million or so years ago in the middle pliocene in the form of an ancient ostrich or elephant bird. The term australopithecine refers to two very closely related genera within the Hominina subtribe of the Hominini tribe. The Pliocene epoch (spelled Pleiocene in some older texts is the period in the Geologic timescale that extends The Ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large Flightless bird native to Africa (and formerly the Middle East) Elephant birds are an extinct family of Flightless Birds comprising the genera Aepyornis and Mullerornis. As Homo erectus evolved and left Africa for other countries and continents not much contact was made with ratites, until the Maori and Aborigines arrived in New Zealand and Australia. Homo erectus ( Latin: "upright man" is an extinct species of the genus Homo, believed to have been the first hominin New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. This was very bad for native ratites that had no adaptations to keep from being killed off by humans, as a result many of the Oceanian flora and fauna, not just ratites, became extinct during this period, like the moa for example. The Moa were ten species (in six genera of flightless Birds endemic to New Zealand. Natives used every part of a ratite for something- meat was eaten, bones and eggs were decorated, even the feces served a religious purpose. Most giant birds became extinct by the end of the 18th century, and quite a number of these were ratites. A lot of paleognaths are now considered endangered species. An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming Extinct because it is either few in numbers or threatened by changing environmental or predation Ratites such as the Ostrich are farmed and sometimes even kept as pets. The Ostrich ( Struthio camelus) is a large Flightless bird native to Africa (and formerly the Middle East) Today ratites play a large part of human culture- they are farmed, eaten, raced, protected, cheered, and kept in zoos. As likely as the giraffe or elephant- the ratites may not survive until the next decade.

See also

External links

References

Perrins, Christopher (1979). Birds are generally believed to have evolved from certain feathered Theropod dinosaurs and there is no real dividing line between birds and Dinosaurs except Prehistoric birds are various taxa of Birds that became Extinct before recorded History, or more precisely before they could be studied This page refers only to birds that have gone extinct since the year 1500 A Flightless birds are birds which lack the ability to fly relying instead on their ability to run or swim and are thought to have evolved from their flying ancestors Birds: their life, their ways, their world. Pleasantville, New York: The Reader's Digest Association, Inc. , 8-412. ISBN 0-89577-065-2.  

Wyse, Elizabeth (2001). Dinosaur Encyclopedia: from dinosaurs to the dawn of man. New York, New York: DK publishing, inc. , 138-145. ISBN 0-7894-7935-4.  

(2005) Animal: the definitive visual guide to the world's wildlife. New York, New York: DK publishing, inc. , 260-265. ISBN 0-7894-7764-5.  

Charles, Sibley (1993). A World Checklist of Birds. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-3000-5547-1.  

Elwood, Ann (1991). Ostriches, emus, rheas, kiwis, & cassowaries. Mankato, Minnesota: Creative Education. ISBN 0-8868-2338-2.  

Wexo, John (2000). Zoobooks: Ostriches and other Ratites. Zoobooks is a monthly Magazine for children Each issue covers a different animal with pictures educational diagrams and facts Poway, California: Wildlife Education. ISBN 1-8881-5357-1.  

(1996) The Ratite Encyclopedia. Charley Elrod. ISBN 0-0642-9402-8.  

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