Ardeinae is a subfamily of
heron
Herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 75 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genus ''Botaurus'' are referred to as bi ...
s, which includes the
day herons,
night herons, and
egret
Egrets ( ) are herons, generally long-legged wading birds, that have white or buff plumage, developing fine plumes (usually milky white) during the breeding season. Egrets are not a biologically distinct group from herons and have the same build ...
s.
[
]
Taxonomy
Extant Genera
Fossils
* Genus ''Proardea
''Proardea'' is an extinct genus of heron, containing two species, ''Proardea amissa'' ("lost proto-heron") and ''Proardea? deschutteri'' from the Borgloon Formation of Belgium. It stood about 70 cm (2 ft 4 in) tall and was very si ...
'' (fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserve ...
)
* Genus ''Zeltornis
''Zeltornis'' ("Zelten bird") is an extinct genus of heron. It contains a single species, ''Zeltornis ginsburgi''.
''Zeltornis'' probably resembled the modern night herons, but was much larger, standing 2 m (6 ft 8 in) tall and weighing ab ...
'' (fossil
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserve ...
, Early Miocene of Djebel Zelten, Libya)
* Genus undetermined
** Easter Island heron, Ardeidae ''gen. et sp. indet.'' (prehistoric
Prehistory, also called pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the first known use of stone tools by hominins million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use o ...
)
References
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{{Pelecaniformes-stub