Struthioniformes
Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Subphylum Vertebrata, Superclass Gnathostomata, Class Aves, Superorder palaeognathae
Large, terrestrial, flightless birds with vestigial wings, they are also known as ratites. The classification of these birds is still the subject of debate. They are sometimes grouped in four separate orders, sometimes in two orders and sometimes, as here, in one order which may or may not include the tinamidae.
The order Struthioniformes consists of:
- Suborder Struthiones
- Family Struthionidae ostrich
- Suborder Rheae
- Suborder Casuarii
- Family Casuariidae cassowaries
- Family Dromaiidae emu
- Suborder Apteryges
- Family Apterygidae kiwis