Start this series with post # 503, Feb. 5, 2014
Scientists have organized and classified birds into major groups called ORDERS.Each order contains a number of entities called SPECIES.
Species refer to all the birds within an order that are like one another . . . robins, for instance, belong in one species,
and are in the order passeriformes.
Since "arky", more than 1.5 million species of birds
have existed on this planet . . . of these, approximately
10,000 species have evolved and remain.
1 Tinamiformes: tinamous and rheas
2 Struthioniformes: ostriches
3 Casuariiformes: cassowaries, emus, and kiwis
4 Galliformes: gamebirds
5 Anseriformes: waterfowl
6 Sphenisciformes: penguins
7 Gaviiformes: loons (divers)
8 Podicipediformes: grebes
9 Procellariiformes: albatrosses and petrels
10 Phoenicopteriformes: flamingos
11 Ciconiiformes: herons and allies
12 Pelecaniformes: pelican and allies
13 Falconiformes: birds of prey
14 Charadriiformes: gulls, plovers and allies
15 Gruiformes: cranes and allies
16 Opisthocomiformes: hoatzin
17 Charadriiformes: waders and shorebirds
18 Pteroclidiformes: sandgrouse
19 Columbiformes: pigeons
20 Psittaciformes: parrots and cockatoos
21 Musophagiformes: Turacos
22 Cuculiformes: cuckoos
23 Strigiformes: owls
24 Caprimulgiformes: nightjars and allies
25 Apodiformes: hummingbirds and swifts
26 Caliiformes: mousebirds
27 Trogoniformes: trogons
28 Coraciiformes: kingfishers and allies
29 Bucerotiformes: hornbills and hoopoes
30 Piciformes: woodpeckers and allies
31 Passeriformes: perching birds, song birds, ravens, and allies
Each bird on the planet falls into one of the ORDERS and is arranged in a sequence that indicates its closest relative. Outward appearance does not always place birds in the same ORDER as ornithologists look beyond appearance and rely on factors such as anatomy, skeletal structure, DNA analysis, etc. A complete list of all birds on the planet can be found online by going to Wikipedia: List of Birds. The different species in each ORDER can be found online and in various
field guides which will be discussed in the next post. Scientists, however, continue to disagree as to the exact
number of birds in existence as well as to what ORDER some should be placed.
field guides which will be discussed in the next post. Scientists, however, continue to disagree as to the exact
number of birds in existence as well as to what ORDER some should be placed.
The highest ranked order, the passeriformes, or perching birds are the most adaptable and are
considered the highest evolved . . . the lowest ranked are the flightless ostriches and rheas.
Following the Jurassic Period, dinosaurs became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous Period . . . flowering plants flourished and, released from competition with dinosaurs, birds (and mammals) occupied some of the niches of the bipedal dinosaur. Under these conditions, birds thrived and diversified.
considered the highest evolved . . . the lowest ranked are the flightless ostriches and rheas.
Over half of all birds on earth belong to the passeriformes order. Some scientists believe that early in the
evolutionary process, birds split into two diverse groups. The first, and much smaller group comprised
ratites, tinamous, waterfowl, and pheasants. The second group included all the other avian orders.
Below, is a drawing of an ostrich and a image of a raven sculpture.
Most scientists consider flightless bird the lowest ranked order
on the evolutionary classification chart. The passerines - which includes corvids like
the raven - is considered the highest evolved and most adaptable.
Black Magic
23"H 17"W 17"D
evolutionary process, birds split into two diverse groups. The first, and much smaller group comprised
ratites, tinamous, waterfowl, and pheasants. The second group included all the other avian orders.
Below, is a drawing of an ostrich and a image of a raven sculpture.
Most scientists consider flightless bird the lowest ranked order
on the evolutionary classification chart. The passerines - which includes corvids like
the raven - is considered the highest evolved and most adaptable.
23"H 17"W 17"D
Following the Jurassic Period, dinosaurs became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous Period . . . flowering plants flourished and, released from competition with dinosaurs, birds (and mammals) occupied some of the niches of the bipedal dinosaur. Under these conditions, birds thrived and diversified.
The function of classification is to make sense of the diversity of species by grouping together related forms.
This diversity is the result of rapid evolutionary change during the past 50 million years.
To avoid confusion across languages, Latin names are used in bird classification, as they are for all other organisms. Closely related species are grouped in one genus, closely related genera are grouped in
one family, closely related families are grouped in one order, and so on.
Since the late 20th century, fossil discoveries in China and DNA studies continue to present
controversy among scientists as to the distantly related ancestors of the modern bird.
Technically, birds are "avian dinosaurs" and the debate continues as to whether they evolved from a bird-like reptile.
Technically, birds are "avian dinosaurs" and the debate continues as to whether they evolved from a bird-like reptile.
"arky" remains the universally recognized transitional fossil - or link - between dinosaurs and the modern bird.
Below is a drawing of "arky" and a photo of the fossil found in 1861 . . . see the previous post for more information.
Blog, text, photos, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish Smith
No comments:
Post a Comment