Anhimidae
Sign in to saveThe screamers are three South American bird species placed in family Anhimidae. They were thought to be related to the Galliformes because of similar bills, but are more closely related to the family Anatidae, i.e. ducks and allies, and the magpie goose, within the clade Anseriformes. The clade is exceptional within the living birds in lacking uncinate processes of ribs. The three species are: The horned screamer (Anhima cornuta); the southern screamer or crested screamer (Chauna torquata); and the northern screamer or black-necked screamer (Chauna chavaria).
AI overview
Anhimidae is a family of three large South American birds called screamers that were long misclassified but are actually most closely related to ducks and geese rather than to chickens and pheasants. These birds are notable for belonging to a rare group of living birds that lack a particular rib structure (uncinate processes), making them scientifically significant for understanding bird evolution and anatomy.
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Taxonomy · GBIF
FAMILY
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderAnseriformes
- FamilyAnhimidae
via GBIF · CC0
Article
6 sectionsContents
- Systematics and evolution
- Distribution and habitat
- Behaviour and ecology
- Status and conservation
- References
- External links
The screamers are three South American bird species placed in family Anhimidae. They were thought to be related to the Galliformes because of similar bills, but are more closely related to the family Anatidae, i.e. ducks and allies, and the magpie goose, within the clade Anseriformes. The clade is exceptional within the living birds in lacking uncinate processes of ribs. The three species are: The horned screamer (Anhima cornuta); the southern screamer or crested screamer (Chauna torquata); and the northern screamer or black-necked screamer (Chauna chavaria).
==Systematics and evolution== Anhimids are most similar to presbyornithids, with which they may form a clade to the exclusion of the rest of Anseriformes. Given the presence of lamelae in the otherwise fowl-like beaks of screamers, it is even possible that they evolved from presbyornithid-grade birds, reverting from a filter-feeding lifestyle to an herbivorous one.