Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Acanthisittidae Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Acanthisittidae Genera Acanthisitta Rifleman Xenicus Traversia (extinct) Pachyplichas (extinct) The New Zealand wrens, family Acanthisittidae, are tiny passerines restricted to New Zealand. They are understood to form a distinct lineage within the passerines, but authorities differ on their assignment to the oscines or suboscines (the two suborders that between them make up the passeriformes). DND-DNA hybridisation studies suggest that they may, in fact, form a third suborder and have no living close relatives at all. Six species are known, in four genera. At least three, more probably four of the six species are extinct. The Rifleman, Acanthisitta chloris. The Bush Wren, Xenicus longipes, almost certainly extinct. The Rock Wren, Xenicus gilviventris. The recently extinct Stephens Island Wren, Traversia lyalli. The extinct North Island Stout-legged Wren, Pachyplichas yaldwyni. The extinct South Island Stout-legged Wren, P. jagmi. This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.