A field guide to mesozoic birds and other winged dinosaurs

Appendix C: Evolutionary
Linnaean Classification
Several attempts have been made in recent years to construct traditional
or Linnaean classifications of Mesozoic birds. However, most of
these attempts have been flawed in some way. For example, Livezey & Zusi
(2007) presented a classification of all birds which included only a few Mesozoic
taxa. These were united in several unorthodox, often paraphyletic
groups which contradicted most contemporary phylogenies (e.g. uniting
Archaeopteryx and Confuciusornis in a single group to the exclusion of
other birds, including Rahonavis as an euenantiornithean etc.). While Linnaean
classifications are clearly not as useful as phylogenies for elucidating
the interrelationships of taxa, there are situations where they may be useful
for communication. For that reason they should be made as comprehensive
and as phylogenetically rigorous as possible within the confines of the
Linnaean structure, and for these reasons Livezey & Zusi’s classification is
considered inadequate.
Another Linnaean classification was presented by Benton (2004).
While more phylogenetically rigorous than that of Livezey & Zusi (2007), it
suffered from oversimplification due to few included taxa. Presented here is
a more comprehensive and rigorous Linnaean taxonomy of all known Mesozoic
bird taxa (Subfamily rank and above). The goal of this taxonomy is
not to be used in preference to phylogenetic nomenclature, but to be available
as an alternative to published Linnaean classifications on the occasion
that the use of Linnaean ranks is necessary or preferred by the author. The
names and placement of taxa listed here are informed by their phylogenetic
definitions in Appendix B.
Class Aves Linnaeus 1758
Order Caenagnathiformes Sternberg 1940
Family Caudipteridae Zhou & Wang 2000
Family Avimimidae Kurzanov, 1981
Superfamily Caenagnathoidea Sternberg 1940
Family Caenagnathidae Sternberg 1940
Subfamily Caenagnathinae Sternberg 1940
Subfamily Elmisaurinae Osmolska 1981
Family Oviraptoridae Osborn 1924
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