Phasianoidea is a superfamily of birds of the order of the Galliformes.
| Phasianoidea | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male common pheasant in Scotland | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Superfamily: | Phasianoidea Vigors, 1825 |
| Families | |
|
See the text | |
Taxonomy edit
Description edit
The superfamily was described in 1825 by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors.[1]
Etymology edit
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 edit
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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 edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ Phasianoidea en Stefan Hintsche (2013): System der Lebewesen (System of living beings).
Bibliography edit
- 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. ISBN 84-8733-415-6.
External links edit
- Phasianoidea in ADW.