Phasianoidea Explained

Phasianoidea is a superfamily of birds of the order of the Galliformes.

Taxonomy

Description

The superfamily was described in 1825 by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors.^[1]

Etymology

The name Phasianoidea is formed by the union of the elements of scientific Latin Phasian- and -oidea. The first is the genitive root of the name of its type genus, Phasianus; and the second is the ending -oidea, neutral plural of -oideus, derived from ancient Greek εἴδος eidos, 'aspect', 'appearance', 'form', with the union vowel -o-, used in the formation of numerous names of orders and superfamilies of animals. Literally: 'those who look like pheasants'.

Families

The superfamily is subdivided into three families:^[2]

Superfamily Phasianoidea Vigors, 1825 – 225 species

• Family Numididae Reichenbach, 1850 – 6 species
• Family Odontophoridae Gould, 1844 – 34 species
• Family Phasianidae Vigors, 1825 – 185 species

References

Bibliography

• del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (1994): "New World Vultures to Guineafowl". In Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 2. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. .

External links

• Phasianoidea in ADW.

Notes and References

1. Vigors, N. A. (1825): "Observations on the Natural Affinities that connect the Orders and Families of Birds". Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 14 (3): 395–451. Read on line.
2. http://www.sthco.de/Phylogenetik/Galliformes.htm Phasianoidea