Casuariidae

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Casuariidae
Southern cassowary
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Infraclass: Palaeognathae
Order: Casuariiformes
Family: Casuariidae
Kaup, 1847[1]
Genera
Diversity
2-3 genera, 6-7 species

The bird family Casuariidae /kæsjəˈr.ɪd/ has four surviving members: the three species of cassowary and the emu.

All living members of the family are very large

Australia-New Guinea.[2]

Species

  • Emuarius Boles, 1992 (emuwaries) (Late Oligocene – Late Miocene)
    • E. gidju
      (Patterson & Rich 1987) Boles, 1992
    • E. guljaruba
      Boles, 2001
  • Casuarius
    Brisson, 1760 (cassowary)
    • C. lydekkeri Rothschild, 1911 (Pygmy cassowary)
    • C. casuarius
      (Linnaeus, 1758) (Southern cassowary)
    • C. unappendiculatus
      Blyth, 1860 (Northern cassowary)
    • C. bennetti
      Gould, 1857 (Dwarf Cassowary)
  • Dromaius Vieillot, 1816 (emu)
    • D. arleyekweke Yates & Worthy 2019
    • D. ocypus Miller 1963
    • D. novaehollandiae
      (Latham, 1790) (Emu)
      • D. n. diemenensis
        Le Souef, 1907 (Tasmanian emu)
      • D. n. minor
        Spencer, 1906 (King Island emu)
      • D. n. baudinianus
        Parker, SA, 1984 (Kangaroo Island emu)
      • D. n. novaehollandiae
        (Latham, 1790) (Emu)

Systematics and evolution

The fossil record of casuariforms is interesting, but not very extensive.

Some Australian fossils initially believed to be from emus were recognized to represent a distinct genus, Emuarius,[3] which had a cassowary-like skull and femur and an emu-like lower leg and foot.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Brand, S. (2008)
  2. ^ Clements, J (2007)
  3. ^ From "Emu" + "Casuarius". Describer W. E. Boles commonly refers to the genus as "emuwaries" or "cassomus".

References

  • Boles, Walter E. (2001): A new emu (Dromaiinae) from the Late Oligocene Etadunna Formation. Emu 101: 317–321. HTML abstract
  • Brands, Sheila (14 August 2008). "Systema Naturae 2000 / Classification, Family Casuariidae". Project: The Taxonomicon. Retrieved 4 February 2009.[permanent dead link]
  • Clements, James (2007). The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World (6 ed.). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. .
  • Folch, A. (1992). Family Casuariidae (Cassowaries). pp. 90– 97 in; del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World, Vol 1, Ostrich to Ducks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

External links