Mirandornithes

Mirandornithes is a group of birds that includes both flamingos and grebes. Scientists sometimes call this larger group Phoenicopterimorphae.

For a long time, it was hard to figure out how flamingos and grebes are related to other birds. Flamingos were thought to be close to birds like ducks and storks, while grebes were grouped with loons. But newer studies looking at DNA have shown that flamingos and grebes are actually close relatives to each other.

Both flamingos and grebes, as well as their ancient relatives called phoenicopteriformes, lived mainly in water. This suggests that the whole Mirandornithes group came from ancestors that were good swimmers and lived in aquatic environments.

Etymology

The name Mirandornithes was created in 2005 by a scientist named Sangster. It comes from the Latin word miranda, which means "wonderful", and the Greek word ὄρνις (órnis), which means bird. This name was chosen to describe a new group of birds discovered using special scientific methods.

Synapomorphies

Scientists have found at least twelve special features that are only found in the group of birds called Mirandornithes. These features help show how flamingos and grebes are related. Some of these features include having long neck bones, a special shape on arm bones, and eggs with a chalky covering made from a type of calcium.

These special traits were noted by researchers in 2004 and 2005.

Systematics

Some scientists have used different names for the group Mirandornithes, like Phoenicopterimorphae, or placed grebes within the flamingo group. However, many prefer the name Mirandornithes.

Studies show that flamingos and grebes are closely related, but exactly where this group fits in the bigger family tree of birds has been hard to pin down. Early research suggested they might be close to loons and penguins, but newer genetic studies have shown different possibilities. Now, scientists often think Mirandornithes might be one of the earliest branches in the bird family tree, or closely related to a group that includes pigeons and sandpipers.