Rheidae is a

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

of flightless

ratite A ratite () is any of a diverse group of flightless, large, long-necked, and long-legged birds of the infraclass Palaeognathae. Kiwi, the exception, are much smaller and shorter-legged and are the only nocturnal extant ratites. The systematics ...

birds which first appeared in the

Paleocene The Paleocene, ( ) or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 mya (unit), million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), E ...

. It is today represented by the sole living

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

'' Rhea'', but also contains several extinct genera.

Taxonomy

Order Rheiformes (Forbes, 1884) Furbringer, 1888 heimorphae Bonaparte, 1849; Rheae Forbes 1884ref name="mikko"> * Family † Opisthodactylidae Ameghino 1895 ** Genus ?†''

Diogenornis ''Diogenornis'' is an extinct genus of ratites, that lived during the Early Eocene (Itaboraian to Casamayoran in the SALMA classification).Casuariiformes The Casuariiformes is an order of large flightless birds that has four surviving members: the three species of cassowary, and the only remaining species of emu. They are divided into either a single family, Casuariidae, or more typically two, w ...

instead. ** Genus †''

Opisthodactylus ''Opisthodactylus'' is an extinct genus of rhea from the Early to Middle Miocene Santa Cruz and Chichinales Formations and the Late Miocene ( Montehermosan) Andalhuala Formation of Argentina. Three species are described: the type species, ''O ...

'' Ameghino 1895 (Miocene) – rheid? * Family Rheidae (Bonaparte 1849) Bonaparte, 1853 ** Genus †''

Heterorhea ''Heterorhea'' is an extinct genus of ratites in the rhea family. The type species is ''H. dabbenei''.

'' Rovereto 1914 (Pliocene) ** Genus †''

Hinasuri ''Hinasuri'' is an extinct genus of rhea from the Montehermosan. Its fossils have been found in the Monte Hermoso Formation of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica' ...

'' Tambussi 1995 ** Genus '' Rhea'' Brisson 1760

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q12214029 Ratites Bird families * Extant Thanetian first appearances Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte