Gruiformes

The Gruiformes are an order of birds. They include many kinds of birds, both alive today and ones that have gone extinct. These birds live all around the world. The name "Gruiformes" means "crane form." This describes their body shape.

Traditionally, many birds that liked to walk in shallow water or on land and didn’t fit well into other groups were placed together in the Gruiformes. This group includes 15 large cranes, about 145 smaller birds called crakes and rails, and several other families with just one to three species. Examples of these smaller families are the Heliornithidae, the limpkin, and the Psophiidae.

Recent research shows that some of these birds may not be closely related to the main group of cranes and rails. Instead, they might only be loosely connected. This makes the larger group of Gruiformes less distinct than people once thought.

Systematics

Birds that used to be grouped together as Gruiformes actually come from many different family lines. The true Gruiformes include rails, flufftails, finfoots, sungrebe, adzebills, trumpeters, limpkin, and cranes. These make up the suborder Grues. Another group, called Eurypygae, includes the kagu and the sunbittern, which are not closely related to the Grues.

Other birds like mesites, button-quails, the Australian plains-wanderer, seriemas, and bustards each come from their own unique family lines. Some scientists have studied these birds using DNA and found that they are not all closely related, even though they were once thought to be part of the same group.

Phylogeny

Gruiformes

• Family †Songziidae Hou, 1990
  • Genus †Songzia Hou, 1990
• Suborder Grui
  • Superfamily Gruoidea Vigors, 1825
    • Family †Geranoididae Wetmore, 1933
    • Family †Parvigruidae Mayr, 2005
      • Genus †Parvigrus Mayr, 2005
      • Genus †Rupelrallus Fischer, 1997
    • Family Aramidae Bonaparte, 1854 (limpkin)
      • Genus †Badistornis Wetmore, 1940
      • Genus Aramus Vieillot, 1816 [Courlili, Courliri Buffon, 1781; Notherodius Wagler, 1827] (limpkins)
    • Family Psophiidae Bonaparte, 1831 (trumpeters)
      • Genus Psophia Linnaeus, 1758
    • Family †Eogruidae Wetmore, 1934
      • Genus †Sonogrus Kuročkin, 1981
      • Genus †Eogrus Wetmore, 1932 [Progrus Bendukidze, 1971]
      • Subfamily †Ergilornithinae
        • Genus †Ergilornis Kozlova, 1960
        • Genus †Amphipelargus Lydekker, 1891
        • Genus †Urmiornis Mecquenem, 1908
    • Family Gruidae (cranes)
      • Genus †Camusia Seguí, 2002
      • Subfamily Balearicinae Brasil, 1913
        • Genus †Aramornis Wetmore, 1926
        • Genus †Geranopsis Lydekker, 1871
        • Genus †Eobalearica Gureev, 1949
        • Genus Balearica Brisson, 1760 [Geranarchus Gloger, 1842] (crowned cranes)
      • Subfamily Gruinae Vigors, 1825
        • Genus †"Grus" conferta Miller & Sibley, 1942 [Olson & Rasmussen, 2001]
        • Genus †"Probalearica" mongolica Kurochkin, 1985
        • Genus †Palaeogrus Portis, 1885 [Palaeogrus Salvadori, 1884 nomen nudum]
        • Genus Antigone (Linnaeus, 1758)
        • Genus Leucogeranus (Pallas, 1773)
        • Genus Grus Brisson, 1760 non Moehring, 1758 [Anthropoides Vieillot, 1816; Bugeranus Gloger, 1841; Megalornis Gray, 1841; Leucogeranus Bonaparte, 1855; Mathewsena Iredale, 1914; Mathewsia Iredale, 1911; Limnogeranus Sharpe, 1893; Laomedontia Reichenbach, 1852; Philorchemon Gloger, 1842; Scops Gray, 1840 non Moehring, 1758 non Bruennich, 1772 npn Savigny, 1809] (cranes)
• Suborder Ralli
  • Family †Aptornithidae (adzebills)
    • Genus †Aptornis Owen, 1844
  • Family †Nesotrochidae Stervander, Chen, Feng & Mayr, 2025 (West Indian cave-rails)
    • Genus †Nesotrochis Wetmore, 1918
  • Family Sarothruridae (flufftails)
    • Genus Mentocrex Peters, 1933 (wood rails)
    • Genus Sarothrura Heine, 1890 non Hasselt, 1823 [Corethrura Reichenbach, 1849 non Hope, 1843 non Gray, 1846; Daseioura Penhallurick, 2003] (flufftails)
  • Family Heliornithidae Gray, 1841 (finfoots and sungrebe)
    • Genus Heliopais Sharpe, 1893 (Asian/masked finfoots)
    • Genus Podica Lesson, 1831 [Rhigelura Wagler, 1832; Podoa Bonaparte, 1857 non Illiger, 1811] (African finfoots)
    • Genus Heliornis Bonnaterre, 1791 [Podoa Illiger, 1811 non Bonaparte, 1857; Plotoides Brookes, 1830; Podia Swainson, 1837] (sungrebe, American finfoot)
  • Family Rallidae (crakes, moorhens, gallinules, and rails)
    • Genus †Aletornis Marsh, 1872 [Protogrus]
    • Genus †Australlus Worthy & Boles, 2011
    • Genus †Baselrallus De Pietri & Mayr, 2014
    • Genus †Belgirallus Mayr & Smith, 2001
    • Genus †Capellirallus Falla, 1954 (snipe-billed rail)
    • Genus †Creccoides Shufeldt, 1892
    • Genus †Eocrex Wetmore, 1931
    • Genus †Euryonotus Mercerat, 1897
    • Genus †Fulicaletornis Lambrecht, 1933
    • Genus †Hovacrex Brodkorb, 1965 (Hova gallinule)
    • Genus †Ibidopsis Lydekker, 1891
    • Genus †Latipons Harrison & Walker, 1979
    • Genus †Miofulica Lambrecht, 1933
    • Genus †Miorallus Lambrecht, 1933
    • Genus †Nesophalaris Brodkorb & Dawson, 1962
    • Genus †Palaeoaramides Lambrecht, 1933
    • Genus †Palaeorallus Wetmore, 1931
    • Genus †Paraortygometra Lambrecht, 1933
    • Genus †Parvirallus Harrison & Walker, 1979
    • Genus †Pastushkinia Zelenkov, 2013
    • Genus †Quercyrallus Lambrecht, 1933
    • Genus †Rallicrex Lambrecht, 1933
    • Genus †Rhenanorallus Mayr, 2010
    • Genus †Vitirallus Worthy, 2004 (Viti Levu rails)
    • Genus †Wanshuina Hou, 1994
    • Genus †Youngornis Yeh, 1981
    • Genus †Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. [Fulica podagrica (partim)] (Barbados rail)
    • Genus †Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Easter Island rail)
    • Genus †Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Fernando de Noronha rail)
    • Genus †Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Tahitian "goose")
    • Genus †Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. (Bokaak "bustard")
    • Genus †Rallidae gen. et sp. indet. ('Amsterdam Island' rail)
    • Genus Rougetius Bonaparte, 1856 (Rouget's Rails)
    • Subfamily Rallinae Rafinesque, 1815
      • Genus †Pleistorallus Worthy, 1997 (Fleming's rails)
      • Genus Anurolimnas Sharpe, 1893 (Chestnut-headed Crakes)
      • Genus Biensis (Madagascan Rails)
      • Genus Rallicula Schlegel, 1871 [Corethruropsis Salvadori, 1876] (forest-rails)
      • Genus Rallus Linnaeus, 1758 [†Epirallus Miller, 1942]
      • Genus †Aphanapteryx von Frauenfeld, 1868 [Pezocrex Hachisuka, 1953] (Mauritius/Red rails)
      • Genus †Erythromachus Milne-Edwards, 1873 (Rodriquez rails)
      • Genus Dryolimnas Sharpe, 1893
      • Genus Crex Bechstein, 1803 [Crecopsis Sharpe, 1893] (greater crakes)
      • Genus Lewinia Gray, 1855 [Aramidopsis Sharpe, 1893; Donacias Heine & Reichenow, 1890; Hyporallus Iredale & Mathews, 1926]
      • Genus Canirallus Bonaparte, 1856 (grey-throated rail)
      • Genus Gymnocrex Salvadori, 1875 (bare-faced rails)
      • Genus Gallirallus Lafresnaye, 1841 [Tricholimnas Sharpe, 1893; Nesoclopeus Peters, 1932; Cabalus Hutton, 1874; Habropteryx Stresemann, 1932; Eulabeornis Gould, 1844; †Diaphorapteryx Forbes, 1893; Hypotaenidia Reichenbach, 1853; Sylvestrornis Mathews, 1928]
    • Subfamily Gallinulinae Gray, 1840
      • Tribe Pardirallini Livezey, 1998 [Aramidinae] (Wood-rails & allies)
        • Genus Pardirallus Bonaparte, 1856 [Ortygonax Heine, 1890]
        • Genus Mustelirallus Bonaparte, 1858 [Neocrex Sclater & Salvin, 1869; Cyanolimnas Barbour & Peters, 1927]
        • Genus Amaurolimnas Sharpe 1893 (Rufous rails; Uniform crakes)
        • Genus Aramides Pucheran, 1845
      • Tribe Gallinulini Gray, 1840 [Fulicarinae (Nitzsch, 1820) sensu Livezey, 1998]
        • Genus Tribonyx Du Bus de Gisignies, 1840 [Brachyptrallus Lafresnaye, 1840; Microtribonyx Sharpe, 1893] (native-hens)
        • Genus Porzana Vieillot, 1816 [Limnobaenus Sundevall, 1872; Phalaridion Kaup, 1829; Porzanoidea Mathews, 1912; Porzanoides Condon, 1975; Rallites Pucheran, 1845; Schoenocrex Roberts, 1922; Porphyriops Pucheran, 1845]
        • Genus Paragallinula Sangster, García-R & Trewick, 2015 (Lesser Moorhen)
        • Genus Gallinula Brisson, 1760 [Hydrogallina Lacépède, 1799; Stagnicola Brehm, 1831; Porphyriornis Allen, 1892 Pareudiastes Hartlaub & Finsch, 1871 Edithornis]
        • Genus Fulica Linnaeus, 1758 [†Palaeolimnas Forbes, 1893]
    • Subfamily Porphyrioninae Reichenbach, 1849
      • Tribe Porphyrionini Reichenbach, 1849 (Purple gallinules & swamphens)
        • Genus †Aphanocrex Wetmore, 1963 (St. Helena swamphens)
        • Genus Porphyrio Brisson, 1760 [Notornis Owen, 1848]
      • Tribe Himantornithini Bonaparte, 1856 (Bush-hens & Waterhens)
        • Genus Himantornis Hartlaub, 1855 (Nkulenga rails)
        • Genus Megacrex D'Albertis & Salvadori, 1879 (New Guinea Flightless Rails)
        • Genus Aenigmatolimnas (Striped Crakes)
        • Genus Gallicrex Blyth, 1852 [Gallinulopha Bonaparte, 1854; Hypnodes Reichenbach, 1853] (Watercocks)
        • Genus Amaurornis Reichenbach, 1853 [Erythra Reichenbach, 1853; Pisynolimnas Heine & Reichenow, 1890; Poliolimnas Sharpe, 1893] (Bush-hen)
      • Tribe Zaporniini Des Murs, 1860 (Old world crakes)
        • Genus Rallina Gray, 1846 [Euryzona Gray, 1855; Tomirdus Mathews, 1912] (chestnut-rails)
        • Genus Zapornia Stephens, 1824 [Limnocorax Peters, 1854; Limnobaenus; Corethrura Grey, 1846]
      • Tribe Laterallini Tif, 2014 (New world crakes)
        • Genus Micropygia Bonaparte, 1856 (Ocellated Crakes)
        • Genus Rufirallus (russet-crowned crake)
        • Genus Laterallus Gray, 1855 (ruddy crakes)
        • Genus Coturnicops Gray, 1855 (barred-backed crakes)
        • Genus Hapalocrex (Yellow-breasted Crakes)
        • Genus Limnocrex
        • Genus Mundia Bourne, Ashmole & Simmons, 2003 (Ascension Island Crakes)
        • Genus Creciscus Cabanis, 1857 [Atlantisia Lowe, 1923] (blackish crakes)

When considered to be monophyletic, it was assumed that Gruiformes was among the more ancient of avian lineages. The divergence of "gruiforms" among "Metaves" and "Coronaves" is proposed to be the first divergence among Neoaves, far predating the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event c. 66 mya (Houde 2009). No unequivocal basal gruiforms are known from the fossil record. However, there are several genera that are not unequivocally assignable to the known families and that may occupy a more basal position:

• Propelargus (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene of Quercy, France) – cariamid or idornithid
• Rupelrallus (Early Oligocene of Germany) – rallid? parvigruid?
• Badistornis (Brule Middle Oligocene of Shannon County, Missouri) – aramid?
• Probalearica (Late Oligocene? – Middle Pliocene of Florida, France?, Moldavia and Mongolia) – gruid? A nomen dubium?
• "Gruiformes" gen. et sp. indet. MNZ S42623 (Bathans Early/Middle Miocene of Otago, New Zealand) – Aptornithidae?
• Aramornis (Sheep Creek Middle Miocene of Snake Creek Quarries, U.S.) – gruid? aramid?
• Euryonotus (Pleistocene of Argentina) – rallid?

Other even more enigmatic fossil birds and five living families are occasionally suggested to belong into this order, such as the proposed Late Cretaceous family Laornithidae and the following taxa:

• Family †Gastornithidae (diatrymas) (fossil)
• Family †Messelornithidae (Messel-birds)
• Family †Salmilidae (fossil) – distinct order Cariamiformes
• Family †Geranoididae (fossil) – distinct order Cariamiformes^{[citation needed]}; however, Mayr (2016) argued they might be members of Gruiformes, specifically stem group representatives of the Gruoidea.
• Family †Bathornithidae (fossil) – distinct order Cariamiformes
• Family †Idiornithidae (fossil) – distinct order Cariamiformes
• Family †Phorusrhacidae (terror birds) (fossil) – distinct order Cariamiformes
• Family Cariamidae (seriemas) – Neoavian landbirds – distinct order Cariamiformes
• Family Otididae (bustards) – Neoavian waterbirds – distinct order
• Family Eurypygidae (sunbittern) – prospective "Metaves" – new order Eurypygiformes together with kagu
• Family Rhynochetidae (kagu) – prospective "Metaves" – new order Eurypygiformes together with sunbittern
• Family Mesitornithidae (mesites, roatelos, monias) prospective "Metaves" – distinct order
• Family Turnicidae (buttonquails) moved to already existing order Charadriiformes together with plains wanderer
• Family Pedionomidae (plains wanderer) moved to already existing order Charadriiformes together with buttonquails
• Horezmavis (Bissekty Late Cretaceous of Kyzyl Kum, Uzbekistan)
• Telmatornis (Navesink Late Cretaceous?)
• Amitabha (Bridger middle Eocene of Forbidden City, Wyoming) – rallid?
• Eobalearica (Ferghana Late? Eocene of Ferghana, Uzbekistan) – gruid?
• "Phasianus" alfhildae (Washakie B Late Eocene of Haystack Butte, U.S.)
• Talantatos (Late Eocene of Paris Bain, France)
• Telecrex (Irdin Manha Late Eocene of Chimney Butte, China) – rallid?
• Neornithes incerta sedis (Late Paleocene/Early Eocene of Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco)
• Aminornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Rio Deseado, Argentina) – aramid?
• Loncornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Rio Deseado, Argentina) – aramid?
• Riacama (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina)
• Smiliornis (Deseado Early Oligocene of Argentina)
• Pseudolarus (Deseado Early Oligocene – Miocene of Argentina) – gruiform?
• Gnotornis (Brule Late Oligocene of Shannon County, Missouri) – aramid?
• Anisolornis (Santa Cruz Middle Miocene of Karaihen, Argentina) – aramid?
• Occitaniavis – cariamid or idiornithid, includes Geranopsis elatus