Cariamiform

Cariamiform refers to a taxonomic order of birds, Cariamiformes, which includes the extant seriemas and the extinct terror birds. This order is part of the larger superorder Australaves. Seriemas are ground-dwelling birds found in South America, characterized by their long legs, necks, and terrestrial habits. They are known for their powerful beaks and their predatory nature, feeding on small vertebrates and invertebrates.

The extinct terror birds, also known as Phorusrhacids, were a diverse group of large, predatory, flightless birds that lived in South America from the Paleocene to the Pleistocene epochs. These birds were the apex predators of their time and are characterized by their enormous size, powerful legs, and formidable beaks. Fossil evidence suggests that terror birds were cursorial, meaning they hunted by running.

The relationship between seriemas and terror birds has been a subject of debate among paleontologists and ornithologists, but genetic and morphological studies have increasingly supported their placement within the same order. The Cariamiformes are considered to be a lineage that originated in South America and has a long evolutionary history on the continent. Their unique adaptations for terrestrial life and predation set them apart within the avian tree of life.