Raptores (Noun)
Meaning
Term used in former classifications; erroneously grouped together birds of the orders Falconiformes and Strigiformes.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- In older classification systems, raptores was a term used to describe a group of birds of prey, which is no longer recognized due to the lack of common ancestry among its members.
- Birds such as hawks and owls were previously classified under the raptores category, which was eventually abandoned as modern taxonomic techniques emerged.
- Prior to advancements in DNA analysis and cladistic methods, birds in the raptores category seemed to be connected based solely on morphological similarities and behavioral characteristics.
- Some bird classification texts still contain the outdated raptores group, grouping diurnal birds of prey, like falcons, alongside nocturnal species such as owls.
- Many sources state that due to oversimplification of relationships among raptores members, there has been considerable discussion to recognize them under two separate distinct groups – the Falconiformes and the Strigiformes.