Chapter 1. Comparative Osteology and Phylogeny of Quails and Allies (Coturnicini)

This chapter provides a short account of the comparative osteology of modern members of Coturnicini. Coracoids, humeri, carpometacarpi, and tarsometatarsi are used in this study as the most diagnostic skeletal elements and those which are often available as fossils. Main diagnostic characters are indicated for these bones. The osteological nomenclature is provided. Additionally, the phylogenetic relationships between several fossil taxa of Phasianidae are investigated. Preliminary results of a new phylogenetic analysis for Galliformes are given. The fossil taxa Tologuica, Chauvireria, and Plioperdix are recovered as close relatives of modern Coturnix quails. The fossil Palaeocryptonyx is ambiguously placed as a basal taxon within Coturnicini.