Elementaves

Elementaves is a proposed clade of birds, comprising a diverse group of birds who occupy various different ecological niches. They include the clades Phaethoquornithes and Strisores, as well as the Gruimorphae and Opisthocomiformes. According to Stiller et al. (2024), it is one of the four major subclades of Neoaves and sister to Telluraves. The clade's name refers to the classical elements, reflecting its members' varying adaptations to earth, air, and water.^[1]

Elementaves Temporal range: Early Paleocene – Recent 62–0 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Pacific gull (Larus pacificus).
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Clade:	Neoaves
Clade:	Elementaves Stiller et al., 2024
Clades
Opisthocomiformes Gruimorphae Strisores Phaethoquornithes