Classification of Aves
The Aves class can be classified further into two groups. Here we are going to discuss about them as mentioned below:
The Archaeornithes or Ancient Birds
The Archaeornithes or the ancient birds are a set of extinct groups of Aves that had a beak with teeth and a long lizard-like tail. Here are some major facts about them:
- Archaeornithes belong to the creatures of the prehistoric avian group that lived in the Mesozoic Era.
- They had a beak with teeth and a long lizard-like tail which made them distinct from the modern birds.
- Their wing bones, such as the humerus, radius, and ulna played a major role in making them able to fly.
The Neornithes or Modern birds
The Neornithes or modern birds the groups do not contain any teeth in their beaks and have a short tail. Here are some major facts:
- Neornithes or modern birds have more lightweight bones which is a unique skeleton structure.
- The Neornithes or the modern birds’ skull is lightweight.
- Ribs are connected by the small bones.
- Cervical Vertebrae are present in the neck of the Neornithes Or Modern Birds and provide high flexibility to the bird’s neck to regulate the movement of the head.
Class Aves – Classification, Examples, & its Characteristics
Aves is an animal class that mostly includes all birds and their extinct ancestors. They are the endothermic vertebrates that fall under the phylum Chordata. The vertebrates that fall under the Aves class, have certain features like toothless jaws and they lay eggs with hard cells, etc.
The Aves class can be divided further into two major categories. The Archaeornithes are a set of extinct groups of Aves that had a beak with teeth and a long lizard-like tail. On the other side, Neornithes groups do not contain any teeth in their beaks and have short tails. In this article, we will discuss the Aves class, key characteristics, origin, and major classifications in detail.
Table of Content
- Aves Definition
- What are Aves?
- Aves – Key Features and Characteristics
- Biological Classification of Aves
- Classification of Aves
- Example of Aves