Eurypygiformes

Sunbittern ( Eurypyga helias )

The Eurypygiformes are a fixed basis of molecular genetic investigations order of birds, which includes only two extant species, the Kagu ( Rhynochetos jubatus ) and the sunbittern ( Eurypyga helias ). The Kagu lives only on the island of New Caledonia, the sunbittern occurs in tropical rain forests in Central and South America. Both birds are about half a meter long, feed on carnivorous invertebrates and small vertebrates and live in permanent monogamy.

System

Kagu and sunbittern are in mono own generic families ( Rhynochetidae and Eurypygidae ), traditionally the crane birds ( Gruiformes ) have been assigned. Within the Gruiformes the closer relationship was always controversial. More recently, evidence that Kagu and sunbittern are indeed sister species, but have in common nothing with the crane birds or other avian order accumulate.

The assignment to the new order Eurypygiformes was recognized by the International Ornithological Committee and the American Ornithologists ' Union, 2009.

You may also see the fossil genera and Messelornis Aptornis must be assigned to Eurypygiformes. The Kagu and the sunbittern are perhaps the last remnants of a once much larger clade of birds that was prevalent on Gondwana and was separated by the drifting apart of the continents.