Caprimulgiformes
Nightbirds
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This tree diagram shows the relationships between several groups of organisms.
The root of the current tree connects the organisms featured in this tree to their containing group and the rest of the Tree of Life. The basal branching point in the tree represents the ancestor of the other groups in the tree. This ancestor diversified over time into several descendent subgroups, which are represented as internal nodes and terminal taxa to the right.
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You can click on the root to travel down the Tree of Life all the way to the root of all Life, and you can click on the names of descendent subgroups to travel up the Tree of Life all the way to individual species.
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close boxReferences
Barrowclough, G. F., J. G. Groth and L. A. Mertz. 2006. The RAG-1 exon in the avian order Caprimulgiformes: Phylogeny, heterozygosity, and base composition. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 41:238-248
Dumbacher, J. P., T. K. Pratt, and R. C. Fleischer. 2003. Phylogeny of the owlet-nightjars (Aves: Aegothelidae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequence. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 29 (3): 540-549.
Fidler, A. E., S. Kuhn, and E. Gwinner. 2004. Convergent evolution of strigiform and caprimulgiform dark-activity is supported by phylogenetic analysis using the arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (Aanat) gene. Molecular Phylogenetic and Evolution 33 (3): 908-921.
Holyoak, D. 2001. Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes. Bird Families of the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York.
Iwaniuk, A. N., P. L. Hurd, and D. R. W. Wylie. 2006. The comparative morphology of the cerebellum in caprimulgiform birds: Evolutionary and functional implications. Brain Behavior and Evolution 67 (1): 53-68.
Lane, J. E., D. L. Swanson, R. M. Brigham, and A. E. McKechnie. 2004. Physiological responses to temperature by Whip-poor-wills: More evidence for the evolution of low metabolic rates in Caprimulgiformes. Condor 106 (4):921-925.
Larsen, C., M. Speed, N. Harvey and H. A. Noyes. 2007. A molecular phylogeny of the nightjars (Aves: Caprimulgidae) suggests extensive conservation of primitive morphological traits across multiple lineages
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 42:789-796.
Mariaux, J. and M. J. Braun. 1996. A molecular phylogenetic survey of the nightjars and allies (Caprimulgiformes) with special emphasis on the potoos (Nyctibiidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 6 (2):228-244.
Martin, G. R., L. M. Rojas, Y. M. R. Figueroa, and R. McNeil. 2004. Binocular vision and nocturnal activity in oilbirds (Steatornis caripensis) and pauraques (Nyctidromus albicollis): Caprimulgiformes. Ornitologia Neotropical 15:233-242. Suppl. S.
Mayr, G. 2001. Comments on the osteology of Masillapodargus longipes MAYR 1999 and Paraprefica major MAYR 1999, caprimulgiform birds from the Middle Eocene of Messel (Hessen, Germany). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie Monatshefte 2:65-76.
Mayr, G. 2002. Osteological evidence for paraphyly of the avian order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars and allies). Journal für Ornithologie 143 (1):82-97.
Mayr, G. 1999. Caprimulgiform birds from the Middle Eocene of Messel (Hessen, Germany). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 19 (3):521-532.
Rojas, L. M., Y. M. Ramirez, G. Marin, and R. McNeil. 2004. Visual capability in Caprimulgiformes. Ornitologia Neotropical 15: 251-260. Suppl. S.
Rojas, L. M., Y. M. Ramirez, R. McNeil, M. Mitchell, and G. Marin. 2004. Retinal morphology and electrophysiology of two caprimulgiformes birds: The cave-living and nocturnal oilbird (Steatornis caripensis), and the crepuscularly and nocturnally foraging common pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis). Brain Behavior and Evolution 64 (1):19-33.
Strahan, R. , ed. 1994. Cuckoos, Nightbirds and Kingfishers of Australia. The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Angus and Robertson.
Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name | Nyctibius griseus |
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Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
Source | urutau |
Source Collection | Flickr |
Image Use |
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Copyright | © 2005 Martha Lange |
Scientific Name | Chordeiles minor |
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Location | Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, USA |
Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
Source | Common nighthawk |
Source Collection | Flickr |
Copyright |
© 2007 Jim Scarff
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Scientific Name | Podargus strigoides |
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Location | Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park (Near Port Arthur), Tasmania |
Specimen Condition | Live Specimen |
Source | Tawney Frogmouth |
Source Collection | Flickr |
Image Use |
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Copyright | © 2007 Adam Tibballs |
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Page copyright © 2007
Page: Tree of Life
Caprimulgiformes. Nightbirds.
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- First online 14 December 2005
- Content changed 04 June 2007
Citing this page:
Tree of Life Web Project. 2007. Caprimulgiformes. Nightbirds. Version 04 June 2007 (temporary). http://tolweb.org/Caprimulgiformes/56965/2007.06.04 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/