Mesites | |
---|---|
Subdesert mesite (Monias benschi) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Clade: | Columbimorphae |
Order: | Mesitornithiformes Wetmore, 1960 |
Family: | Mesitornithidae Wetmore, 1960 |
Genera | |
Respective ranges: brown mesite in orange, white-breasted mesite in green and subdesert mesite in blue |
The mesites (Mesitornithidae) are a family of birds that are part of a clade (Columbimorphae) that include Columbiformes and Pterocliformes.[1] They are smallish flightless or near flightless birds endemic to Madagascar. All the species of this clade are listed as vulnerable.