Order Mesitornithiformes Wetmore 1960 (bird)
Parent taxon: Neornithes according to J. F. Clements et al. 2017
See also del Hoyo et al. 2014
Sister taxa: Aequornithes, Alectromorphae, Cariamiformes, Cathartiformes, Colymbomorphae, Coraciomorphae, Eurypygiformes, Galbuliformes, Leptosomiformes, Lonchodytes pterygius, Neognathae, Odontognathae, Otidiformes, Palaeognathae, Pelargomorphae, Phoenicopteriformes, Picocoraciae, Pterocliformes
Subtaxa: Mesitornithidae
Ecology: ground dwelling carnivore
Distribution: found only at Ankilitelo Cave (Quaternary of Madagascar)