English

Opisthocomids (hoazins)

Noun

opisthocomid ‎(plural opisthocomids)

1. (zoology, ornithology) Any bird of the family Opisthocomidae, which comprises the hoazin and extinct relatives.
   • 1992, Kenneth E. Campbell (editor), Papers in Avian Paleontology: Honoring Pierce Brodkorb, page 135,

     Miller (1953) described an avian cranium from the Miocene of Colombia as an opisthocomid, Hoazinoides magdalenae.

   • 1995, Acta palaeornithologica: 3, Symposium SAPE: 5, Internationale Senckenberg-Konferenz, 22-26, Juni 1992, page 72,

     All other birds thought to be primitive [e.g. cuculiforms, opisthocomids, coraciiforms, musophagids, gruiforms (including the Cariarmidae), etc.] have definitive and often quite small feather tracts.

   • 2007, Gary W. Kaiser, The Inner Bird: Anatomy and Evolution, page 177,

     Some of the other placements are so startling that Livezey and Zusi are unconvinced by their own results (e.g., opisthocomids [Hoatzin], steatornithids [Oilbirds] phoenicopterids [flamingos], and many of the smaller forest birds).

Related terms

• opisthocomine