The Gruiformes are an order containing a considerable number of living and extinct bird families, with a widespread geographical diversity. Gruiform means "crane-like".
Chevrotains, also known as mouse-deer, are small ungulates that make up the family Tragulidae, the only members of the infraorder Tragulina. The 10 extant species are placed in three genera, but several species also are known only from fossils. The extant species are found in forests in South and Southeast Asia, with a single species in the rainforests of Central and West Africa. They are solitary or live in pairs, and feed almost exclusively on plant material. Chevrotains are the smallest hoofed mammals in the world. The Asian species weigh between 0.7 and 8.0 kg, while the African chevrotain is considerably larger at 7–16 kg (15–35 lb).
Tube-dwelling anemones or ceriantharians look very similar to sea anemones but belong to an entirely different subclass of anthozoans. They are solitary, living buried in soft sediments. Tube anemones live inside and can withdraw into tubes, which are composed of a fibrous material made from secreted mucus and threads of nematocyst-like organelles known as ptychocysts. Ceriantharians were formerly classified in the taxon Ceriantipatharia along with the black corals but have since been moved to their own subclass, Ceriantharia.
Trionychia is a superfamily of turtles which encompasses the species that are commonly referred to as softshelled turtles as well as some others. They are found throughout the temperate regions of the world.
The genus Cathartes includes medium-sized to large carrion-feeding birds in the New World vulture (Cathartidae) family. The three species currently classified in this genus occur widely in the Americas.
Polycestinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following genera:
Vanroonia is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Chalcogenia is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Sphaerobothris is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Paratassa is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Sphenoptera is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Acmaeoderella is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Acmaeodera is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, a group of metallic wood-boring beetles favored by insect collectors. Whereas most beetles including most buprestids fly with their elytra held out and vibrating their hindwings to give lift and thrust, the Acmaedodera, however, fly with their hind wings only — the elytra are fused down the center and form a shield over the insect's abdomen, even during flight. This fact, combined with the banding across the abdomen which is common in this family, gives many of them a distinct wasp-like appearance when in flight. Several are therefore considered hymenopteran mimics.
Microacmaeodera is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Polycesta is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Sommaia is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Xantheremia is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Xenopsis is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:
Zygogramma suturalis, commonly known as the ragweed leaf beetle, is a species of leaf beetle belonging to the genus Zygogramma. Native to North America, it has been introduced into Russia and China for the biological pest control of ragweed.
Myrabolia is the only genus in the beetle family Myraboliidae. It has about 13 species, found in Australia.
