The name Phasianoidea is formed by the union of the elements of scientific LatinPhasian- and -oidea. The first is the genitive root of the name of its type genus, Phasianus; and the second is the ending -oidea, neutral plural of -oideus, derived from ancient Greek εἴδος eidos, 'aspect', 'appearance', 'form', with the union vowel -o-, used in the formation of numerous names of orders and superfamilies of animals. Literally: 'those who look like pheasants'.
Families
The superfamily is subdivided into three families:[2]
Superfamily Phasianoidea Vigors, 1825 – 225 species
^Vigors, N. A. (1825): "Observations on the Natural Affinities that connect the Orders and Families of Birds". Transactions of the Linnean Society of London14 (3): 395–451. Read on line.
^Phasianoidea en Stefan Hintsche (2013): System der Lebewesen (System of living beings).