Phasianoidea is a superfamily of birds of the order of the Galliformes.
Taxonomy
Description
The superfamily was described in 1825 by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors.
Etymology
The name Phasianoidea is formed by the union of the elements of scientific Latin Phasian- and -oidea. The first is the genitive root of the name of its type genus, Phasianus; and the second is the ending -oidea, neutral plural of -oideus, derived from ancient Greek εἴδος eidos, 'aspect', 'appearance', 'form', with the union vowel -o-, used in the formation of numerous names of orders and superfamilies of animals. Literally: 'those who look like pheasants'.
Families
The superfamily is subdivided into three families:
Superfamily Phasianoidea Vigors, 1825 – 225 species
Family Numididae Reichenbach, 1850 – 6 species
Family Odontophoridae Gould, 1844 – 34 species
Family Phasianidae Vigors, 1825 – 185 species
References
Bibliography
del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (1994): "New World Vultures to Guineafowl". In Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 2. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. .
External links
Phasianoidea in ADW.