| Phasianoidea | |
|---|---|
| |
| Male common pheasant in Scotland | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Superfamily: | Phasianoidea Vigors, 1825 |
| Families | |
|
See the text | |
Phasianoidea is a superfamily of birds of the order of the Galliformes.
The superfamily was described in 1825 by the Irish zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors.[1]
The name Phasianoidea is formed by the union of the elements of scientific Latin Phasian- and -oidea. The first is the genitive root of the name of its type genus, Phasianus; and the second is the ending -oidea, neutral plural of -oideus, derived from ancient Greek εἴδος eidos, 'aspect', 'appearance', 'form', with the union vowel -o-, used in the formation of numerous names of orders and superfamilies of animals. Literally: 'those who look like pheasants'.
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The superfamily is subdivided into three families:[2]
Superfamily Phasianoidea Vigors, 1825 – 225 species