Anseriformes
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The order Anseriformes contains about 150 species of birds in three families: the Anhimidae (the screamers), Anseranatidae (the Magpie-goose), and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans.
All species in the order are highly adapted for an aquatic existence at the water surface. All are web-footed for efficient swimming (although some have subsequently become mainly terrestrial).
Evolution
The earliest known Anseriform is the recently discovered Vegavis, which lived during the Cretaceous period [link]. It is thought that the Anseriformes originated when the original Gallo-anserae (the group to which Anseriformes and Galliformes belong) split into the two main lineages. The extinct dromornithids represent early offshoots of the anseriform line, possibly derived from screamer-like ancestors. The ancestors of the Anseriformes developed the characteristic bill structure that they still share. The combination of the internal shape of the bill and a modified tongue acts as a suction pump to draw water in at the tip of the bill and expel it from the sides and rear; an array of fine filter plates called lamellae traps small particles, which are then licked off and swallowed.
All Anseriformes have this basic structure, but many have subsequently adopted alternative feeding strategies: geese graze on plants, the saw-billed ducks catch fish; even the screamers, which have bills that seem on first sight more like those of the game birds, still have vestigal lamellae.
Taxonomy
The Anseriformes and the Galliformes (pheasants etc) are the most primitive neognathous birds, and should follow ratites and tinamous in bird classification systems.
- ORDER ANSERIFORMES
- * Family Anhimidae
- ** Screamers
- * Family Anseranatidae
- ** The Magpie-goose
- * Family Anatidae
- ** Subfamily Dendrocygninae: Whistling ducks (sometimes given full family status as the Dendrocygnidae).
- ** Subfamily Thalassorninae: the White-backed Duck.
- ** Subfamily Anserinae: Swans and geese.
- ** Subfamily Stictonettinae: the Freckled Duck.
- ** Subfamily Plectropterinae: the Spur-winged Goose.
- ** Subfamily Tadorninae: Shelducks, sheldgeese and steamer ducks.
- ** Subfamily Anatinae: Dabbling, and diving ducks.
- ** Subfamily Merginae: eiders, scoters, mergansers and other sea-ducks.
- ** Subfamily Oxyurinae: Stiff-tailed ducks and allies.
- * Family Dromornithidae (extinct)
- ** Mihirungs
- * Family Presbyornithidae (extinct)
- ** Several genera of wading-"geese", including the oldest known anseriform, Vegavis.
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