Suborder Ciconiae (bird)
Parent taxon: Ciconiiformes according to B. C. Livezey and R. L. Zusi 2007
See also Cheneval 1984, Jaekel 1911, Lambrecht 1933, Wetmore 1940 and Wetmore 1956
Sister taxa: Ardeoidae, Ciconiidae, Ciconiopsis, Eocathartes, Ibididoidae, Lophiornis, Phoenicopteri, Phoenicopteroidea, Plataleoidae, Sanshuiornis, Scopi, Scopidae, Xenerodiopidae
Subtaxa: Ciconioidea Pelagodornithoidea Threskiornithoidea
Ecology: ground dwelling carnivore