Notopalaeognathae

Notopalaeognathae Temporal range: Early Cretaceous – Holocene, 120–0 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Greater rhea (Rhea americana)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Infraclass:	Palaeognathae
Clade:	Notopalaeognathae Yuri et. al, 2013
Clades
Rheiformes Novaeratitae Tinamiformes †Dinornithiformes

Notopalaeognathae is a clade that contains the order Rheiformes (rheas), the clade Novaeratitae (birds such as the kiwis and the emus), the order Tinamiformes (tinamous) and the extinct order Dinornithiformes (the moas). The exact relationships of this group have only recently been understood, with tinamous and the moas sharing a common ancestor and the kiwis are more closely related to emus and cassowaries. The extinct elephant birds of Madagascar have recently been identified as closest relative to the kiwis. The rheas are either the basal most branch of notopalaeognaths or the sister group to Novaeratitae. The sister group to Notopalaeognathae is Struthionidae (the ostrich family).