Table 2.
Median branch lengths (L) subtending clade identified by taxon among MPTs (values in brackets pertain to polytomies), respective Bremer (support) indices (B) for clades (i.e. non-terminal taxa in analysis), and apomorphies both unambiguous (i.e. invariant for set of MPTs) and diagnostic (CI = 1.00) or supportive (0.50 ≤ CI < 1.00) for corresponding taxa (Appendix 1). Characters (numbered) and states (lettered in italics) identify terminal condition of transformation attributed to internode in question; characters, states and provenance of features were described by Livezey & Zusi (2006)
| Taxon | L | B | Diagnostic apomorphies | Supportive apomorphies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aves | [82] | 12 | 1b, 214b, 1518b, 1912b, 1987d, 2218c | 338b, 708b, 789a, 1329b, 1312c, 1510a, 2438b, 2446b |
| Ornithurae | 124 | 2 | – | 1470b |
| Eoaves | 139 | 13 | 418c, 515b, 1280b, 1297b, 1474b, 2108b, 2212c | 1333d, 1452b, 1701c, 2227c, 2440c, 2446d |
| Neornithes | 98 | 11 | 22c | 221b, 1586a, 1687a, 1688a, 1690a, 1819d, 2134b, 2383a |
| Palaeognathae | 106 | 13 | 540b, 631b, 656b, 659b, 1750b, 2029b, 2436c, 2945b | 1330b, 1523a, 2028b, 2133c |
| Crypturi* | 102 | – | 924b | 1361b, 1453b, 1635b, 1645b, 1844b, 2351b, 2497a |
| Ratitae† | 241 | 50 | 129a, 250b, 474a, 523b, 547b, 555b, 765b, 767a, 901b, 923b, 926b, 958b, 1046b, 1051b, 1263b, 1341b, 1537b, 1554b, 1564c, 1861a, 2022b, 2045b, 2165b, 2184b, 2512b, 2721b, 2757c, 2794b, 2798b, 2867b | 476b, 506b, 600a, 927b, 1008e, 1019b, 1041a, 1053b, 1098f, 1122b, 1258a, 1333e, 1336c, 1337c, 1346c, 1346b, 1353a, 1364c, 1371c, 1450a, 1497b, 1509b, 1548b, 1694b, 1707a, 1709a, 1744a, 1747c, 1756d, 1766b, 1773b, 1924b, 1998a, 2015d, 2167a, 2479b, 2522b, 2547b, 2568b, 2717b, 2769b, 2808b, 2811a, 2821a, 2868a |
| Casuariimorphae | 88 | 31 | 352b, 1120b, 1121b, 1167b, 1170b, 1390b, 2306b | 413c, 930b, 952b, 962b, 1156b, 1789b, 1844b, 1355b, 2667b, 2949b |
| Struthionimorphae | 100 | 44 | 107b, 1065b, 1154b, 1169b, 1784b, 1896b, 2002b, 2302b, 2326b, 2398c, 2795b, 2824b | 1371c, 1551b, 1568b, 1756c |
| Neognathae | 142 | 52 | 213b, 523c, 579b, 601b, 1096b, 1106b, 1487c, 1809b, 1953b, 2068b, 2108c, 2209b, 2216b, 2217b | 2e, 4c, 109b, 112c, 468b, 583c, 600d, 731d, 1497d, 1633c, 1789b, 2294b |
| Galloanserimorphae | 82 | 18 | 117b, 513b, 546b, 601c, 698b, 723b, 2073b, 2855b, 2915b | – |
| Galliformes | 137 | 86 | 542b, 625b, 1077b, 1109b, 1247b, 1257b, 1362b, 1657b, 1906b, 2693b, 2859b, 2907b | 109d, 378b, 524b, 600c, 750b, 1175c, 1196b, 1330b, 1792c, 2146a |
| Anseriformes | 97 | 41 | 95b, 278b, 2052b, 2073c, 2148b, 2454b, 2724b, 2747b, 2913b | 422b, 1333b, 2497a |
| Neoaves | 81 | 18 | 1280c, 2502b, 2586b, 2893b, 2895b, 2896b, 2900d | 480c, 517c, 600e, 1721b |
| Natatores | 51 | 1 | – | – |
| Pygopodo-tubinares | 104 | 43 | 195c, 1432b, 2076b, 2413a | – |
| Gaviomorphae | 95 | 52 | 534c, 538b, 748b, 2117b, 2147b, 2249b, 2256b | 927b, 946c, 1514b, 1766b, 1924b, 2077b, 2089d, 2287b, 2362b, 2402a |
| Gaviiformes | 125 | – | 457b, 1407b, 1532b, 1893b, 2002c, 2320b, 2331b, 2411b, 2644b, 2694b, 2882b, 2886b | 1193b, 1820b, 2133b, 2322b, 2349c |
| Podicipediformes | 121 | – | 823b, 2304b, 2435c, 2642b, 2658b, 2771b, 2784b | 164b, 1008d, 1657b, 2054d, 2056b, 2429b |
| Procellariimorphae | 66 | 12 | 196b, 722b, 1347b, 2404b, 2630b, 2744b, 2933b | 2225c, 2356b, 2729d |
| Sphenisciformes | 225 | – | 448b, 534b, 910b, 933b, 1422b, 1424b, 1495b, 1517b, 1530b, 1541b, 1542b, 1544b, 1556b, 1571b, 1736b, 1749c, 1751b, 2293c, 2366b, 2528b, 2543b, 2546b, 2720b, 2790b, 2791b, 2870b | 385e, 994b, 1302b, 1353c, 1364d, 1443b, 1451c, 1516c, 1580c, 1581b, 1694b, 1707c, 1733a, 1755c, 1756c, 1820b, 2004b, 2133b, 2446c, 2522b, 2563b, 2584b, 2588b, 2610c, 2810c, 2812d, 2868a |
| Procellariiformes | 33 | 64 | 1305b, 1306b, 2847b | 2819a |
| Stegano-grallatores | 61 | 8 | – | 1138b |
| Pelecanimorphae | 102 | 24 | 720b, 1241b, 2107b, 2751b | 24a, 372b, 1144b, 1540d, 1999b, 2089b, 2729b |
| Balaenicipitiformes | 158 | – | 257b, 288b, 293b, 433b | 153b, 286b, 304b, 566b, 740b, 762b, 769c, 780c, 1309b, 1514b, 2346b |
| Pelecaniformes | 111 | 16 | 335b, 889b, 1832b, 2573b | 35b, 48b, 147b, 946d, 2181b, 2351b, 2388b, 2406b, 2548b |
| Ciconiimorphae | 55 | 9 | 1543b | 1138c, 2179b, 2830b |
| Ciconiiformes | 58 | 9 | – | 2420b |
| Ardeiformes | 106 | 66 | 116b, 175b, 754b, 2097b, 2391b, 2396b, 2458b, 2800b, 2834b, 2836b, 2851b | 35b, 147b, 529b, 535b, 831b, 1238c, 2028b, 2330b, 2388b |
| Terrestrornithes‡ | 42 | 1 | – | – |
| Charadriimorphae | 45 | 10 | – | 2575b |
| Gruiformes | 40 | 7 | 2111b | 2146a, 2197b |
| Charadriiformes | 30 | 25 | – | 2462b |
| Dendrornithes§ | 54 | 4 | – | – |
| Falconimorphae | 62 | 6 | 2916b | 2431b |
| Falconiformes | 83 | 19 | 120d, 1857b, 1938b, 2343b, 2428b | 1153c, 2133b, 2854b, 2899b |
| Strigiformes | 172 | 122 | 13b, 154b, 174b, 193b, 548b, 1549b, 1714b, 2072b, 2200a, 2286b, 2300b | 128c, 249b, 1540c, 1569c, 1779b, 1822b, 2407b, 2412b, 2583c, 2602a, 2694b, 2710d, 2743b |
| Anomalogonates¶ | 56 | 6 | – | – |
| Cuculimorphae | 185 | 33 | 1572b | 1007b, 1336b, 1614b, 1651d, 1658c, 1866b, 2634c, 2849a |
| Opisthocomiformes | 131 | – | 959b, 1064b, 2857b | 385e, 566b, 850e, 1063b, 1140b, 1329d, 1651e, 1658d, 2091b, 2510b, 2575b, 2710d, 2845b |
| Cuculi | 85 | 42 | 937b, 2034b, 2046b, 2061b, 2200c, 2334e | 1122b, 2498b |
| Psittacimorphae | 52 | 1 | – | – |
| Psittaciformes | 177 | 130 | 118b, 246b, 354b, 410b, 429b, 593b, 605c, 650b, 679b, 703b, 761b, 1060b, 1210b, 2334d, 2405d, 2490b, 2703b, 2712b, 2832b, 2876c, 2878b, 2884b | 772b, 2028b, 2127b, 2133d, 2203b, 2491b, 2498b, 2673b, 2710c, 2849e, 2854c, 2935b, 2941b |
| Columbiformes | 106 | 62 | 1723b, 2119b, 2557b, 2846b | 351b, 1175b, 1307b, 1356b, 1369b, 1417c, 2036b, 2575b, 2710d, 2722b |
| Incessores** | 101 | 2 | – | – |
| Cypselomorphae | 70 | 11 | 2786b | 1365b, 2903b |
| Apodiformes | 97 | 49 | 1125b, 1375b, 1416b, 1455b, 1465b, 1466b, 2449c, 2661b | 38b, 1346b, 2466a, 2549c, 2674b |
| Caprimulgiformes | 77 | 9 | 280b, 1271b, 1979b, 2198c, 2921b | 128c, 230b, 249c, 450b, 1999b, 2583c, 2903d, 2933b |
| Trogones†† | 38 | 2 | – | – |
| Trogonomorphae | 43 | 2 | 1919b | – |
| Trogoniformes | 83 | 58 | 450b, 935b, 1720b, 2333b | 244b, 531b, 2100b, 2593c, 2613b |
| Coliiformes | 108 | – | 512b, 1032b, 2338b, 2367b | 398b, 2036b, 2127b, 2673b, 2702b |
| Passerimorphae‡‡ | [62] | 13 | 1807b, 2590b | 718b, 1453b |
| Coraciiformes | 51 | 6 | 2360b | 2723b |
| Piciformes | 58 | 9 | 2334g, 2335b | 1300b, 1709c, 1981b, 2498d |
| Passeriformes | 96 | 55 | 159b, 1228b, 1463b, 1895c, 2669b, 2687b, 2874b, 2877b, 2890b, 2891b | 1127b, 1540e, 1559b, 2789c |
Redundant with taxon of next-lower rank – Dromaeomorphae – by hierarchical classification, and equivalent to apomorphies of terminal taxon Tinamiformes. Other example are (i) Subcohort Galloanseres comprising solely the Superorder Galloanserimorphae; and (ii) Superorder Casuariimorphae comprising solely the Order Casuariiformes.
Pertains to estimate exclusive of two extinct members (Dinornithiformes, Aepyornithiformes); see Methods.
Redundant with taxon of next-lower rank – Telmatorae – and therefore latter was not tabulated.
Redundant with taxon of next-higher rank – Raptores – and therefore latter was not tabulated.
Redundant with taxon of next-lower rank – Coccygae – and therefore latter was not tabulated.
Musophagidae.
Redundant with taxon of next-lower rank – Cypselomorphae – and therefore latter was not tabulated.
Redundant with taxon of next-lower rank – Trogonomorphae – and therefore latter was not tabulated.
Redundant with taxon of next-higher rank – Pico-clamatores – and therefore latter was not tabulated.