Pigeons he Pteroclididae (sandgrouse) were formerly included in the order Columbiformes largely due to their reported ability to drink by the "sucking" or "pumping" action of peristalsis of the esophagus ("The only other group, however, which shows the same behaviour, the Pteroclididae, is placed near the doves just by this doubtlessly very old characteristic." [4] ); more recently, it had been reported that they cannot drink by "sucking" or "pumping", [5] and were treated separately in the order Pteroclidiformes and were considered to be closer to the shorebirds. [6] Recent phylogenomic studies support the grouping of these pigeons and sangrouse together, along with mesites, forming the sister taxon to Mirandornithes. [7] [8] [9] [10] Columbidae are usually divided into five subfamilies, probably inaccurately. For example the American ground and quail doves, which are usually placed in the Columbinae, seem to be two distinct subfamilies. [11] The order presented here follows Baptista et al. (1997) [12] with some updates. [13] [14] [15] Osteology and DNA sequence analyses [15] [16] indicate the dodo and Rodrigues solitaire are better considered as a subfamily Raphinae in the Columbidae pending availability of further information. The arrangement of genera and naming of subfamilies is in some cases provisional, because analysis of different DNA sequences yield results that differ, often radically, in the placement of certain (mainly Indo-Australian) genera. This ambiguity, probably caused by long branch attraction, seems to confirm the first pigeons evolved in the Australasian region, and that the "Treronidae" and allied forms (crowned and pheasant pigeons, for example) represent the earliest radiation of the group. The dodo and Rodrigues solitaire are in all likelihood part of the Indo-Australian radiation that produced the three small subfamilies mentioned above, with the fruit-doves and pigeons (including the Nicobar pigeon). Therefore, they are here included as a subfamily Raphinae, pending better material evidence of their exact relationships.
Pigeonshe Pteroclididae (sandgrouse) were formerly included in
the order Columbiformes largely due to their reported ability to
drink by the "sucking" or "pumping" action ofperistalsisof
theesophagus("The only other group, however, which shows the same
behaviour, the Pteroclididae, is placed near the doves just by this
doubtlessly very old characteristic."[4]); more recently, it had
been reported that they cannot drink by "sucking" or
"pumping",[5]and were treated separately in the
orderPteroclidiformesand were considered to be closer to the
shorebirds.[6]Recent phylogenomic studies support the grouping of
these pigeons and sangrouse together, along withmesites, forming
the sister taxon toMirandornithes.[7][8][9][10]Columbidae are
usually divided into five subfamilies, probably inaccurately. For
example the American ground and quail doves, which are usually
placed in the Columbinae, seem to be two distinct
subfamilies.[11]The order presented here follows Baptista et al.
(1997)[12]with some updates.[13][14][15]OsteologyandDNA
sequenceanalyses[15][16]indicate thedodoandRodrigues solitaireare
better considered as asubfamilyRaphinaein the Columbidae pending
availability of further information.The arrangement of genera and
naming of subfamilies is in some cases provisional, because
analysis of differentDNA sequencesyield results that differ, often
radically, in the placement of certain (mainly Indo-Australian)
genera. This ambiguity, probably caused bylong branch attraction,
seems to confirm the first pigeons evolved in the Australasian
region, and that the "Treronidae" and allied forms (crowned and
pheasant pigeons, for example) represent the earliest radiation of
the group.The dodo and Rodrigues solitaire are in all likelihood
part of the Indo-Australian radiation that produced the three small
subfamilies mentioned above, with the fruit-doves and pigeons
(including theNicobar pigeon). Therefore, they are here included as
a subfamilyRaphinae, pending better material evidence of their
exact relationships.
