Osteology of the Shoulder Girdle in the Piciformes, Passeriformes and Related Groups of Birds

• Published in: Zoologischer Anzeiger Vol. 240; no. 2; pp. 196 - 208
• Main Authors: Höfling, Elizabeth, Alvarenga, Herculano M.F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier GmbH 2001
• Subjects: Birds; clavicle; comparative anatomy; coracoid; scapula; comparative anatomy; Birds; clavicle; coracoid; scapula
• ISSN: 0044-5231; 1873-2674
• DOI: 10.1078/0044-5231-00016

A comparative study of the bones of the shoulder girdle in the Piciformes, Passeriformes and Coraciiformes, and also in related orders of birds such as the Trogoniformes, Coliiformes, Apodiformes, Strigiformes and Caprimulgiformes, is presented and discussed. A number of observed characters justify inclusion only the families Indicatoridae, Picidae, Capitonidae and Ramphastidae in the order Piciformes, while also demonstrating a close resemblance with the Passeriformes that suggests a monophyletic origin for these two orders. On the other hand, although the closely related Bucconidae and Galbulidae are not included in the Piciformes they more closely resemble the Coraciiformes, particularly the Meropidae, Coraciidae and Brachypteraciidae. Among the Coraciiformes, it was observed that the Upupidae closely resemble the Phoeniculidae and, to a lesser extent, the Bucerotidae (particularly Tockus). For other coraciiforms, observation of shoulder girdle osteology alone did not provide sufficient evidence to justify a family grouping or a clearer definition of the boundaries of this order.