Phylogenetic Relationships among Charadriiformes: Reanalysis of Previous Data

Data on waders and allies (Charadriiformes) previously published by Strauch are reanalyzed using cladistic techniques, rather than compatibility analysis as in the original paper. The resulting trees are compared to those of Strauch, to a previous cladistic reanalysis, and to trees based on DNA-DNA hybridization data. In contrast to all previous results, the current analysis shows scolopacine and charadriine waders to be a monophyletic group, each of them being monophyletic. The alcids form a very basal group. The thick-knees (Burhinidae) form a sister group to all waders and larids (gulls and terns). Chionis and Dromas are sister taxa to glareolids and waders. The data contain several uncertainties in character codings and polarizations, which in turn may affect the outcome in various ways.