(written a description, added two pictures) |
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+ | [[Image:Ostrich.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Ostrich]], the largest but flightless bird<br />Photo by {{user|Leon|Leon}}]] | ||
+ | [[Image:Vervain_Hummingbird.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Vervain Hummingbird]], one of the smallest birds on earth <br />Photo by {{user|Juan+Estevez|Juan Estevez}}]] | ||
;Aves (all birds) | ;Aves (all birds) | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
− | + | All birds are placed in the zoological class Aves. They are vertebrate, warm-blooded animals with wings, two feet and they lay eggs. They are characterised by some unique features: | |
+ | * Feathers | ||
+ | * Laying of hard-shelled eggs | ||
+ | * Beak without teeth | ||
+ | * High metabolic rate | ||
+ | * Strong but lightweight skeleton | ||
+ | * Heart with four chambers | ||
+ | * Unique respiratory and digestive systems | ||
+ | The accepted number of species varies in the different sources, but there are about 10'000 species worldwide, found on all continents. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
Recent fossil finds make it highly likely that the closest relatives of birds were the dinosaurs. | Recent fossil finds make it highly likely that the closest relatives of birds were the dinosaurs. |
Revision as of 08:47, 25 September 2009
- Aves (all birds)
Description
All birds are placed in the zoological class Aves. They are vertebrate, warm-blooded animals with wings, two feet and they lay eggs. They are characterised by some unique features:
- Feathers
- Laying of hard-shelled eggs
- Beak without teeth
- High metabolic rate
- Strong but lightweight skeleton
- Heart with four chambers
- Unique respiratory and digestive systems
The accepted number of species varies in the different sources, but there are about 10'000 species worldwide, found on all continents.
Taxonomy
Recent fossil finds make it highly likely that the closest relatives of birds were the dinosaurs.
Below is a list of all the orders in the class Aves that are recognized by Opus, which at this level of taxonomy follows the Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. If you are looking for an order that you cannot find in this list, there may be a link to it at the end of this page; in the linked page you should find the families associated with that order as well as a link to the order under which those families are currently listed in Opus.
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Struthioniformes | Ostriches | ||
Rheiformes | Rheas | ||
Tinamiformes | Tinamous | ||
Casuariiformes | Cassowaries and Emu | ||
Apterygiformes | Kiwis | ||
Anseriformes | Ducks, geese and allies | ||
Galliformes | Fowl and allies | ||
Phoenicopteriformes | Flamingos | ||
Podicipediformes | Grebes | ||
Columbiformes | Pigeons and allies | ||
Mesitornithiformes | Mesites | ||
Pterocliformes | Sandgrouse | ||
Otidiformes | Bustards | ||
Musophagiformes | Turacos | ||
Cuculiformes | Cuckoos and allies | ||
Caprimulgiformes | Nightjars, frogmouths, swifts and hummingbirds | ||
Opisthocomiformes | Hoatzin | ||
Gruiformes | Cranes, rails and allies | ||
Charadriiformes | Shorebirds, gulls and allies | ||
Eurypygiformes | Kagu and Sunbittern | ||
Phaethontiformes | Tropicbirds | ||
Gaviiformes | Loons / divers | ||
Sphenisciformes | Penguins | ||
Procellariiformes | Petrels, shearwaters and allies | ||
Ciconiiformes | Storks | ||
Suliformes | Boobys, Frigatebirds and Coromorants | ||
Pelecaniformes | Pelicans, Herons and Ibises | ||
Cathartiformes | New World Vultures | ||
Accipitriformes | Buzzards, Eagles, Kites, Hawks, Vultures | ||
Strigiformes | Owls | ||
Coliiformes | Mousebirds | ||
Leptosomiformes | Cuckoo-Roller | ||
Trogoniformes | Trogons and allies | ||
Bucerotiformes | Hornbills, hoopoe and woodhoopoes | ||
Coraciiformes | Kingfishers, rollers and allies | ||
Galbuliformes | Jacamars and allies | ||
Piciformes | Woodpeckers and allies | ||
Cariamiformes | Seriemas | ||
Falconiformes | Falcons and Caracaras | ||
Psittaciformes | Parrots and allies | ||
Passeriformes | Passerines / perching birds (5,000+ species) | ||
Subcategories
This category has the following 41 subcategories, out of 41 total.