Gruimorphae
{{Short description|Clade of birds}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = PaleoceneMourer-Chaviré C. (1995) The Messelornithidae (Aves: Gruiformes) from the Paleogene of France. - Cour. Forsch.-Inst. Senckenberg, 181: 95–105Mayr, Gerald (2016). Avian evolution: the fossil record of birds and its paleobiological significance. Topics in Paleobiology. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 306. {{ISBN|978-1-119-02076-9}}. - Holocene {{fossilrange|60|0|earliest=63}}
Possibly an earlier origin based on molecular clock{{cite journal | first1 = H. | last1 = Kuhl | first2 = C. | last2 = Frankl-Vilches | first3 = A. | last3 = Bakker | first4 = G. | last4 = Mayr | first5 = G. | last5 = Nikolaus | first6 = S. T. | last6 = Boerno | first7 = S. | last7 = Klages | first8 = B. | last8 = Timmermann | first9 = M. | last9 = Gahr | year = 2020 | title = An unbiased molecular approach using 3'UTRs resolves the avian family-level tree of life. | journal = Molecular Biology and Evolution | volume = 38 | pages = 108–127 | doi = 10.1093/molbev/msaa191| pmid = 32781465 |pmc=7783168 | doi-access = free }}
| image = Charadrius-melodus-004 edit.jpg
| image_caption = Piping plover (Charadrius melodus)
| image2 = Rallus aquaticus - Ralaqu.jpg
| image2_caption = Water rail (Rallus aquaticus)
| taxon = Gruimorphae
| display_parents = 4
| authority = Bonaparte, 1854
| subdivision_ranks = Orders
| subdivision = *Charadriiformes
| synonyms = *Charadriimorphae
- Gruicharadriae
}}
Gruimorphae{{cite web|url=http://www.jboyd.net/Taxo/List7.html|title=TiF Checklist: GRUAE I: Opisthocomiformes & Gruiformes|website=www.jboyd.net|access-date=10 April 2018}} is a clade of birds that contains the orders Charadriiformes (plovers, gulls, and allies) and Gruiformes (cranes and rails) identified by molecular analysis.{{cite journal | last1 = Jarvis | first1 = E.D. | display-authors = etal | year = 2014 | title = Whole-genome analyses resolve early branches in the tree of life of modern birds | url= | journal = Science | volume = 346 | issue = 6215| pages = 1320–1331 | doi=10.1126/science.1253451 | pmid=25504713 | pmc=4405904| bibcode = 2014Sci...346.1320J }} This grouping has had historical support, as various charadriiform families such as the families Pedionomidae and Turnicidae were classified as gruiforms.Huxley T.H. On the classification of birds; and on the taxonomic value of the modifications of certain of the cranial bones observable in that class. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1867;1867:415–472.Lowe P.R. An anatomical review of the ‘waders’ (Telmatomorphæ), with special reference to the families, subfamilies, and genera within the suborders Limicolæ, Grui-Limicolæ and Lari-Limicolæ. Ibis. 1931b; 73: 712–771Lowe P.R. On the relations of the Gruimorphæ to the Charadriimorphæ and Rallimorphæ, with special reference to the taxonomic position of Rostratulidæ, Jacanidæ, and Burhinidæ. Ibis. 1931a; 73: 491–534 It may also have support from the fossil record since the discovery of Nahmavis from the Early Eocene of North America.
The relationship between these birds is due to similar anatomical and behavioral characteristics. A morphological study went further to suggest that the gruiforms might be paraphyletic in respect to the shorebirds, with the rails being closely related to the buttonquails.{{cite journal|last1=Livezey|first1=B. C.|last2=Zusi|first2=R. L.|title=Higher-order phylogeny of modern birds (Theropoda, Aves: Neornithes) based on comparative anatomy. II. Analysis and discussion|journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society|date=2007|volume=149|issue=1|pages=1–95|doi=10.1111/j.1096-3642.2006.00293.x|pmid=18784798|pmc=2517308}}{{cite web|url=http://www.helsinki.fi/~mhaaramo/metazoa/deuterostoma/chordata/archosauria/aves/neognathia.html|title=Neognathia|website=www.helsinki.fi|access-date=10 April 2018}}