鳥類の進化・分類

Subclass: Archaeornithes has thrived in Jurassic era whereas subclass: Enanthiornithes, Odontornithes in Cretaceous. Ratites are the birds which do not fly. Some birds such as swifts lowers the body temperature to conserve energy. Allopreening is a social behavior of pigeons, penguins, owls. The gastrointestinal tract of aves has crops, glizzard and coalaca. The coracoid of birds are prominent. Coracoid connects scapula and sternal keel. Clavicles are fused into furcula. Most of the orders are named after the Latin names of birds, e.g. passer(sparrow), pici(woodpecker), pisttacus(parrot), coumba(pigeon), gallus(cock), grus(crane), anser(goose), strix(owl), ciconia(stork), capra(she-goat), struthiocamlus(ostrich). Here are listings of the origins of words: carus(fall), colis(=caulis, stalk) sphaera(sphere), podium(balcony), chara(root), procello(storm), caprimullgus(goat-milker=countryman).


Table 7: Orders in class: Aves

Order Representative Birds Number of Species
Passeriformes sparrow, swallow, crows, robins, finch, wablers, magpies, wrens 5200
Apodiformes hummingbirds, swifts 403
Piciformes woodpeckers 376
Psittaciformes parrots 330
Columbiformes pigeons 319
Charadriiformes sandpipers, terns 319
Falconiformes hawks 286
Galliformes pheasants 256
Gruiformes coots, quail 197
Coraciiformes kingfishes 193
Cuculiformes cuckoos 151
Anseriformes geese, swans 150
Strigiformes owls 134
Ciconiiformes storks, flamingos 114
Caprimulgiformes nighthawks 96
Procellariiformes albatross, petrels 93
Pelecaniformes pelicans 57
Tinamiformes tinamons 45
Trogoniformes trogons 35
Podicipediformes grebes 20
Sphenisciformes penguins 16
Coliiformes mousebirds 6
Gaviiformes loons 4
Casuariiformes emus 4
Apterygiformes kiwis 3
Rheiformes rheas 2
Struthioniformes ostriches 1