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Galliformes

Fowl, Quail, Guans, Currasows, Megapodes

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taxon links [up-->]Phasianidae [up-->]Cracidae [up-->]Numididae [up-->]Megapodiidae [up-->]Odontophoridae [down<--]Galloanserae Interpreting the tree
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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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Containing group: Galloanserae

References

Cox, W. A., R. T. Kimball, and E. L. Braun. 2007. Phylogenetic position on the New World quail (Odontophoridae): eight nuclear loci and three mitochondrial regions contradict morphology and the Sibley-Ahlquist tapestry. Auk 124(1):71–84.

Crowe, T. M., R. C. K. Bowie, P. Bloomer, T. G. Mandiwana, T. A. J. Hedderson, E. Randi, S. L. Pereira, and J. Wakeling. 2006. Phylogenetics, biogeography and classification of, and character evolution in, gamebirds (Aves: Galliformes): effects of character exclusion, data partitioning and missing data. Cladistics 22(6):495–532.

Dimcheff, D. E., S. V. Drovetski, M. Krishnan, and D. P. Mindell. 2000. Cospeciation and horizontal transmission of avian sarcoma and leukosis virus gag genes in galliform birds. J. Virology 74:3984-3995.

Dimcheff, D. D., S. V. Drovetski, and D. P. Mindell. 2002. Molecular evolution and systematics of tetraoninae and other Galliformes using mitochondrial 12S and ND2 genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 24: 203-215.

Dyke, G. J., B. E. Gulas, and T. M. Crowe. 2003. The suprageneric relationships of galliform birds (Aves, Galliformes): a cladistic analysis of morphological characters. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 137:227-244.

Kaiser, V. B., M. van Tuinen, and H. Ellegren. 2007. Insertion events of CR1 retrotransposable elements elucidate the phylogenetic branching order in galliform birds. Molecular Biology and Evolution 24(1):338-347.

Pereira, S. L. and A. J. Baker. 2006. A molecular timescale for galliform birds accounting for uncertainty in time estimates and heterogeneity of rates of DNA substitutions across lineages and sites. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 38(2):499-509.

van Tuinen M, Dyke GJ. 2004. Calibration of galliform molecular clocks using multiple fossils and genetic partitions. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 30:74-86.

Title Illustrations
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window
Scientific Name Alectura lathami
Location Kalinga Park, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Source 96 Australian Brush-turkey
Source Collection Flickr
ToL Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License - Version 2.0.
Copyright © 2006 Jenny
Scientific Name Bonasa umbellus
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Source Ruffed Grouse 1_1979
Source Collection Flickr
ToL Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License - Version 2.0.
Copyright © 2005 Jean-Guy
Scientific Name Acryllium vulturinum
Location Samburu National Reserve (Kenya)
Comments Vulturine Guineafowl
Creator Gerald and Buff Corsi
Specimen Condition Live Specimen
Source Collection CalPhotos
Copyright © 2002 California Academy of Sciences
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Citing this page:

Tree of Life Web Project. 2007. Galliformes. Fowl, Quail, Guans, Currasows, Megapodes. Version 07 March 2007 (temporary). http://tolweb.org/Galliformes/26296/2007.03.07 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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This page is a Tree of Life Branch Page.

Each ToL branch page provides a synopsis of the characteristics of a group of organisms representing a branch of the Tree of Life. The major distinction between a branch and a leaf of the Tree of Life is that each branch can be further subdivided into descendent branches, that is, subgroups representing distinct genetic lineages.

For a more detailed explanation of the different ToL page types, have a look at the Structure of the Tree of Life page.

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Galliformes

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