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 know 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 using 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 water 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.

Synapomorphies

Scientists found twelve special features in Mirandornithes birds. These features show how flamingos and grebes are related. Some of these features include long neck bones, a special shape on arm bones, and eggs with a chalky covering made from calcium.

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

Systematics

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

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