The extinct dromornithids, gastornithids and phorusrhacids are among the most spectacular
birds to have ever lived, with some giants exceeding 500 kg. The affinities and evolution of …

Reptiles, including birds, exhibit a range of behaviorally relevant adaptations that are
reflected in changes to the structure of the inner ear. These adaptations include the capacity …

Reconstructing relationships among extant birds (Neornithes) has been one of the most
difficult problems in phylogenetics, and, despite intensive effort, the avian tree of life remains …

Taking someone else's visual perspective marks an evolutionary shift in the formation of
advanced social cognition. It enables using others' attention to discover otherwise hidden …

Palaeognaths, the sister group of all other living birds (neognaths), were once considered to
be vicariant relics from the breakup of the Gondwanan supercontinent. However, recent …

Abstract Ostriches (Struthionidae) are iconic Old-World giant flightless birds. The two living
African species represent only a small part of ancient struthionid diversity, which comprises …

Abstract Knowledge of the higher-level phylogenetic relationships of birds has grown
substantially during the past two decades due to the application of genomic data. However …

This chapter will cover clade definitions, the relationships within clades as well as the
occasional controversial relationships between different clades. Phylogenies arising from a …

Ancient DNA is transforming our ability to reconstruct historical patterns and mechanisms
shaping modern diversity and distributions. In particular, molecular data from extinct …

Madagascar's now-extinct radiation of large-bodied ratites, the elephant birds
(Aepyornithidae), has been subject to little modern research compared to the island's …