Kingdom Animalia Clade Neoaves Scientific name Telluraves | Phylum Chordata Clade Inopinaves Higher classification Passerea | |
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Clade Telluraves
Yuri et al., 2013 Lower classifications Passerine, Accipitriformes, Parrot, Coraciiformes, Piciformes | ||
Telluraves (also called land birds or core landbirds) is a recently defined clade of birds with controversial content. Based on most recent genetic studies, the clade unites a variety of bird groups, including the australavians (passerines, parrots, seriamas, and falcons) as well as the afroavians (including raptors and woodpeckers). They appear to be the sister group of a newly defined clade centered on Aequornithes.
Given that both Afroaves and Australaves have predatory extant members, the common ancestor of Telluraves may have been a predator. Many researchers are skeptical of this assessment, because some extinct representatives were herbivorous Strigogyps.
Cladogram of Telluraves relationships based on Jarvis, E.D. et al. (2014) with some clade names after Yury, T. et al. (2013).