Description The superfamily was described in 1825 by the Irish
zoologist Nicholas Aylward Vigors.
Etymology The name Phasianoidea is formed by the union of the elements of
scientific Latin Phasian- 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'. == References ==