THE taxonomic position of the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) of South
America has long been one of the most debated problems in avian system-
atics. It has usually been placed in the Galliformes, but some authors have
allied it with the African turacos (Cuculiformes: Musophagidae), the
pigeons (Columbidae), or the rails (Rallidae), and others have placed it
in its own monotypic order. The Hoatzin occurs in riparian vegetation
along the streams of the Orinoco and Amazon river drainages in northern
South America. It is a slender bird, about 25 inches in length and generally
brownish in color, somewhat resembling a chachalaca (Cracidae). The
small head bears a ragged, bristly, reddish-brown crest and the bare facial
skin is bright blue. As is apparent from the Frontispiece, the Hoatzin is
actually most like the smaller Guira Cuckoo (G. guira) in coloration; in
fact, the two species are remarkably similar, except in size.
This paper reviews the taxonomic history of the Hoatzin and presents
new evidence from a study of the egg-white proteins indicating that the
resemblance to Guira is due to a close relationship, not merely to con-
vergence or coincidence. The correct position of the Hoatzin is as a genus
within the neotropical subfamily Crotophaginae (Cuculidae) and its dosest
relatives are Guira and Crotophaga. The long association with the Gal-
liformes, we believe, was based upon little more than the prejudice estab-
lished by the original description as Phasianus hoazin (Miller 1776) and
the inability of subsequent workers to interpret their anatomical data. The
link to the Musophagidae seems to be based upon the common possession
of a number of anatomical characters (see Verheyen 1956), the vegetarian
diets, poor flying ability, general proportions, and similar size. In the
turacos and in the Hoatzin the young have wing claws and clamber about
near the nest before they can fly.
THE TAXONOMIC HISTORY OF THE HOATZIN
In general appearance a museum specimen of the Hoatzin resembles a
galliform bird and it is not surprising that M[iller (1776) originally named
TABLE 1
SOME OPINIONS ON THE SYSTEMATIC POSITION 01* OPISTHO1/2OMUS
Evidence of relation-
Placed in Galliformes Placed in separate order Placed near Musophagidae ship to Cuculidae
Miiller, 1776
Linnaeus, 1788
Illiger, 1811
Cuvier, 1817
Carus, 1868
Reichenow, 1882
Fiirbringer, 18884
Gadow, 1892, 18934
Shufeldt, 1904
Wetmore, 1930, 1934,
1940, 1951, 1960
Peters, 1934
Berlioz, 1950
Mayr and Amadon,
1951
Storer, 1960
Verheyen, 1961
L'Herminier, 18372
Huxley, 18682
Garrod, 1879
Sclater, 1880
Newton, 18842
Elliot, 1885 a
Sharpe, 18915
Beddard, 1898
Stresemann,
1927-34, 1959 ø
Nitzsch, 1829,
1840
Gray, 1844-49,
1869-71
Cabanis, 1847 ø
Barnikol, 1953 Verheyen, 1956
Goodchild, 1886
(secondary coverts)
Pycraft, 1895
(pterylography)
Beebe, 1909
(behavior)
Lemmrich, 1931
(sclerotic ossicles)
Sibley and
Ahlquist, 1972
Between Galliformes and Cuculiformes.
a Between Galliformes and Columbiformes.
a Next to Ga]]iformes.
a Noted ties to Musophagidae.
Between Co]umbae and Ralli, following Seebohm (1888, 1890, 1895) who believed that Opistlto-
comus had gruiform affinities.
o Cabanis was apparently the first to note the similarity in co]or and pattern between Opistltocomus
and Guira.
it Phasianus hoazin. Apparently this was enough to establish a bias in favor
of galliform affinities, and in most classifications to the present time, the
Hoatzin has been placed in or near the Galliformes. Some of the opinions
concerning the classification of the Hoatzin are summarized in Table 1.
The first suggestion that the Hoatzin might be related to the Muso-
phagidae was that of Nitzsch who found similarities in the carotid arteries
(1829) and pterylography (1840). In both papers Nitzsch placed Opistho-
comus with Colius and the Musophagidae in the "family" Amphibolae.
Gray (1844-49, 1869-71) followed a similar scheme, placing these three
groups, along with the Bucerotidae and several passerine families, in the
Conirostres.
Huxley (1867) first examined only an incomplete skull and the feet of
a Hoatzin. He found that the slender vomer bifurcates anteriorly in an
unusual way but he considered the palate to be schizognathus, as in the
Galliformes, rather than desmognathous, as are the cuckoos. Huxley con-
sidered the tarsometatarsus to be galliform and assigned Opisthocomus to
a "special subdivision," Heteromorphae, in his large "suborder" Schizog-
nathae. He placed the Heteromorphae between the sandgrouse ("Ptero-
clomorphae") and the pigeons ("Peristeromorphae"), not far from the
galliforms ("Alectoromorphae"). Huxley soon obtained a complete skele-
ton and (1868) decided that in the majority of its osteological characters
the Hoatzin resembles the Galliformes and the Columbiformes and that
where it differs from these it is either unique or like the Musophagidae.
He concluded that Opisthocomus is a highly modified form derived from
"Gallo-columbine" stock, worthy of distinction in his monotypic "Hetero-
morphae."
Huxley's prestige and influence were great and these pronouncements
must have had a strong effect upon subsequent workers. The galliform
affinities of the Hoatzin seemed confirmed, but an alliance to the cuckoos,
via the turacos, had been left open. This basic concept has prevailed to
the present day, in spite of evidence to the contrary.
Garrod (1879) was among the first to follow Huxley's lead by placing
the galliform and cuculiform birds together in his Galliformes (which also
included the ratites, tinamous, rails, seriemas, and bustards). Garrod
expressed his belief that Opisthocomus is an intermediate form, linking the
Cuculidae and Musophagidae to the typical galliforms. He thus emphasized
that Opisthocomus has a relationship to the cuckoos, although he retained
the supposed link to the Galliformes as well.
Others who adopted Opisthocomus as the evidence for a galliform-cuculi-
form alliance included Ftirbringer (1888) who placed the family Opistho-
comidae next to the Gallidae in the "gens" Galli, but also noted a dozen
characters linking Opisthocomus with the Musophagidae.
Gadow (1892: 229) also considered Opisthocomus to be a connection
between the cuckoos and the galliforms but (1893) he placed the Opistho-
comi in the Galliformes. Like Ftirbringer, Gadow consistently emphasized
the alliance to the cuckoos. Gadow (1893: 177) noted the following char-
acters in comparisons among the three groups:
I. Opisthocomus agrees with the Galliformes and differs from the Cucu-
liformes in: 1) downy precocial young, not blind at hatching, 2)
schizognathous palate, 3) fusion of many dorsal vertebrae, 4) syrinx,
5) foot structure, 6) large crop.
II. Opisthocomus agrees with the Cuculiformes and differs from the
Galliformes in: 1) deep temporal fossae, 2) short mandibular proc-
esses, 3) lack of basipterygoid processes, 4) lack of spina interna, 5)
metasternal configuration, 6) large procoracoid, 7) spotted eggs, 8)
10 rectrices.
III. Opisthocomus differs from both Galliformes and Cuculiformes in:
1) lacking apteria on the sides of the neck, 2) arrangement of the
adult downs, 3) number of cervical vertebrae, 4) small thoracic hae-
mapophyses, 5) shape of the liver, 6) other specialized characteristics,
for example, sternum, stomach, crop.
Because virtually all subsequent classifications, including those of Strese-
mann (1927-34), Wetmore (1930, 1934, 1940, 1951, 1960), Peters (1934)
and Mayr and Amadon (1951) are based upon Gadow and F[irbringer, it
is easy to understand why the Hoatzin has been placed so consistently in
the Galliformes.
The anatomical evidence indicating a relationship to the Cuculidae
includes a few additional points. Pycraft (1895: 362) found a general
resemblance in the pterylography of the spinal tract among Opisthocomus,
Tauraco, and Centropus but declined to offer an opinion on their relation-
ships.
Lemmrich (1931) studied the bony platelets of the sclerotic ring in
several groups of birds. He found that all of the 10 species of galliforms
he examined had 13 to 15 plates but that Opisthocomus has only 12.
Lemmrich noted (p. 534) that such a difference is "very remarkable"
because there tends to be little variation within a group. Among the few
other birds with 12 plates is Cuculus.
The skull musculature and its innervation in Opisthocomus were studied
by Barnikol (1953). He compared the Hoatzin with representative species
of galliforms, turacos, and pigeons and summarized the study in a table
(p. 520) listing 40 anatomical characters. Of these Opisthocomus shared
8 with the Galliformes, 9 with the Columbidae and 13 with the Muso-
phagidae. Barnikol concluded that Opisthocomus is an isolated species
deserving recognition as the sole occupant of the order Opisthocomae.
Verheyen (1956) defined 66 osteological characters of the Hoatzin and
found that 50 of them are shared with the Musophagidae. This led him
to combine the two groups as the order Musophagiformes, placed near the
Galliformes and the "Anhimiformes." However, in his later (1961) clas-
sification Verheyen included Opisthocomus next to the Cracidae in his
Galliformes, "owing to new information" (p. 21).
Some especially convincing sets of data arguing against a galliform
alliance for Opisthocomus have appeared in recent years. In 1959 Hudson,
Lanzillotti, and Edwards found 13 aspects of the hind limb musculature
in which the Hoatzin differs from all galliforms and in 1964 Hudson and
Lanzillotti listed 21 important differences between the pectoral musculature
of Opisthocomus and that of the galliforms. They concluded (p. 111 ) that
"Opisthocomus has either been erroneously associated with the Galliformes,
or has diverged so far from the original ancestral condition, that there is
little or no justification for retaining it in that order?
Because of his long interest in the Opisthocomus problem, the opinion of
E. Stresemann is of particular significance. In his classifications of 1934
and 1959 he followed Fiirbringer, placing the Hoatzin with the Galliformes
and attributing resemblances to the tufacos to convergence. But in recent
studies of pterylosis and molt patterns E. Stresemann (1965) and E. and
V. Stresemann (1966) discovered that Opisthocomus differs from all galli-
forms in four ways: 1) the nestling plumage lacks flight feathers; 2) the
first flight feathers grow to nearly adult size and are not molted before the
bird reaches maturity; 3) the two outer secondaries are not shorter than
the adjacent ones and all develop at the same time; and, 4) the primaries
are replaced in a continuous, stepwise process, not in the galliform sequence.
These findings prompted E. Stresemann (1965: 64) to conclude (transl.):
"If Opisthocomus is related to the gallinaceous birds it is only by way of
Adam and Eve."
LIFE HISTORY AND BEHAVIORAL EVIDENCE
Accounts of the natural history of the Hoatzin have been published by
Goeldi (1886), Quelch (1890), Beebe (1909), Chubb (1916) and Young
(1929). A popular article by Grimmer (1962) is one of the most in-
formative, including excellent photographs, and Sick (1964) presented a
summary. From these accounts a fairly complete life history can be
constructed.
The Hoatzin lives in the permanently flooded forests along the banks
of some of the larger rivers and their tributaries in northeastern South
America. The birds feed primarily, and perhaps exclusively, on the leaves,
flowers, and fruits of certain marsh plants, including the genera Mon-
trichardia (Araceae) and Avicennia, the arboreal White Mangrove. Grim-
mer found them feeding only on plants; others have recorded small animals
(fish, crabs) as part of the diet. When feeding the birds fill the large,
specialized crop, the resultant weight of which makes balance difficult
and the bird often rests the sternal area on a branch to support the heavy
crop. A special epidermal callosity has evolved in the area of contact.
Hoatzins are usually described as clumsy, poor fliers, their feet not well
adapted for grasping branches and their weak wings restricting flight to
short distances. The wings are used in clambering about in the vegetation
and the weak flight is correlated with the reduction in the sternum and
pectoral musculature associated with the exceptionally large crop.
When not breeding the Hoatzin forms flocks of up to 40 individuals
which break up into smaller groups of 2 to 6 birds when nesting. The
discovery (Grimmer 1962) that the Hoatzin forms communal nesting
associations is of particular interest because the three species of anis (Cro-
tophaga) and the Guira Cuckoo also build communal nests (Young 1929,
Skutch 1935, 1966, Chapman 1938, Davis 1940a, b).
With the first rains the members of a nesting group build a flat nest
of loosely organized dry twigs in branches overhanging the water. Mating
seems to be indiscriminate and may be polygamous, and all members of
the group participate in incubation and care of the young. The 2 to 5
buff-colored eggs have pink, brown, or bluish spots, and incubation takes
about 28 days. The young have two successive coats of down and are fed
from the crops of the adults, apparently on plant material.
The young remain in the nest for a considerable time but soon begin
to undertake climbing excursions nearby, using the well-known wing claws,
as well as the feet and beak. When frightened the young I-Ioatzin drops
into the water and either dives or swims into the vegetation and hides.
Later it climbs back to the nest.
The young of the Groove-billed (Crotophaga sulcirostris) and Smooth-
billed (C. ani) Anis have a similar pattern of behavior according to Skutch
(1959, 1966). The flightless ani youngster also uses the beak, feet, and
wings (which are clawless) in clambering about near the nest. When
frightened it either moves away through the branches or drops to the
ground and hides in the vegetation, later returning to the nest. Both Beebe
(1909) and Skutch (1959: 294) commented upon the behavioral sim-
ilarities between the Hoatzin and the anis.
THE EGG-WHITE PROTEIN EVIDENCE
Egg white of the Hoatzin was first received in 1961 through the kindness
of J. Lear Grimmer and Woodbridge Williams. Additional material came
from Ram E. Singh in 1972.
It was obvious from the first comparisons using starch gel electrophoresis
(Sibley and Ahlquist, 1972, but see Sibley 1970 for a description of the
technique) that Opisthocomus is not a galliform and is probably a cuckoo,
but the resolving power of the starch-gel technique was insufficient to
provide an unequivocal answer. A study of the literature on the natural
history of the I-Ioatzin and of museum skins caused us to feel fairly certain
PENELOPE PURPURASCENS
CRAX BLUMENBACHII
OPISTHOCOMUS HOAZIN
GUIRA GUIRA
CROTOPHA6A ANI
COCCYZUS AMERICANUS
. GEOCOCCYX CALIFORNIANUS
; MOROCOCCYX ERYTHROPYGI]S
PH 3,0 PH 10,0
Figure 1. The egg-white proteins of Opisthocoraus compared with those of some
New World cuckoos and cradds using the technique of isoelectric focusing in acrylamide
gel. The similarities among Opisthocomus, Guira, and Crotophaga are greater than
between any one of these and the other genera compared. The patterns were produced
using an Ampholine range of pH 3-10.
that the neotropical crotophagine cuckoos (Guira, Crotophaga) were the
most likely relatives. In 1972 we felt confident enough to suggest such an
alliance, but proof still seemed elusive. During 1972 we began work with
the electrophoretic technique of isoelectric focusing in acrylamide gel
(IFAG) (see Sibley and Frelin 1972, for a description of the technique),
which has much greater resolving power than that of starch gel electro-
phoresis. Using the IFAG technique we compared the egg-white proteins
of Opisthocomus with those of Guira, Crotophaga, other cuckoos, various
galliforms, pigeons, and many other groups of nonpasserine birds. It
quickly became dear that the patterns produced by Hoatzin egg white
were most similar to those of the Crotophaginae. We now feel confident
in stating, without qualification, that Opisthocomus is a dose relative of
Guira, which it resembles in plumage coloration, although it is a much
larger bird. If the two had been more alike in size, or if the Hoatzin had
possessed the typical cuculiform foot, we feel confident that this relation-
PENELOPE PURPURASCENS
CRAX BLUMENBACHII
OPISTHOCOMUS HOAZIN
GUIRA GUIRA
CROTOPHAGA ANI
: COCCYZUS AMERICANUS
PH 6,0 PH ,0
GEOCOCCYX CALIFORNIANUS
MOROCOCCYX ERYTHROPYGU$
Figure 2. The same species as in Figure 1 but using an Ampholine range of pH 6-4.
ship would long ago have been recognized. The egg-white data confirm the
relationship, but ample additional evidence from the plumage, anatomy,
life history, and behavior supports this conclusion.
A detailed description of the IFAG patterns follows.
Figures 1 and 2 depict those egg-white proteins that have isoelectric
points between pH 3 and 10. Because no egg-white proteins are known
to be isoelectric below pH 3 and only lysozyme may be isoelectric above
pH 10, nearly all components are resolved in these patterns. In these
figures the egg white of Opisthocomus is compared to that of several species
that have been suspected of being related to it. The pattern of Opistho-
comus differs from those of the curassow Crax and the guan Penelope in
nearly all aspects. In the cracids the ovalbumins and most other com-
ponents are isoelectric near pH 5. This produces a "short" pattern with
many bands close together. In Opisthocomus the ovalbumins are isoelectric
near pH 4 and many components, mainly the ovotransferrins, are isoelectric
at pH 6 or above. Crax and Penelope have a prominent lysozyme near
pH 10 that Opisthocomus lacks.
In those features where the Opisthocomus pattern differs from those of
the cracids it is like those of Guira and Crotophaga. This resemblance is
CRINIFER AFRICANUS
OPISTHOCOMUS HOAZIN
RALLUS LON6IROSTRIS
. COLUIBA LIVIA
PH $,0 PH 10,0
Figure 3. The egg-white proteins of Opistho1/2omus compared with those of some Old
World cuculiforms, a rail, and a dove using isoelectric fuscusing with an Ampholine
range of pH 3-10. The similarities among Opistho1/2omus and the others are less strik-
ing than those among Opistho1/2omus, Guira, and Crotophaga in Figure 1.
most striking in the ovalbumin region around pH 4, but there are other
components as well that have identical isoelectric points. The general
pattern of Opisthocomus is similar to those of the musophagid Crini]er and
the coucal Centropus, but few components have identical isoelectric points.
The pattern of Opisthocomus differs considerably from those of the New
World cuckoos Coccyzus, Geococcyx, and Morococcyx.
The patterns of Coccyzus and Morococcyx in turn resemble those of the
Old World Cuculus and Clamator. Finally there are no similarities between
Opisthocomus, RaNus, and Columba.
Figures 3 and 4 depict the egg-white proteins of the same species in the
pH range 6 to 4. In these separations greater resolution of those com-
ponents in the ovalbumin region is achieved. For example, in the pH 3-10
range four major bands and an additional four minor bands can be seen
in the ovalbumin region of Opisthocomus. In the pH 6-4 patterns Opis-
thocomus has 18 components. Opisthocomus again bears the greatest
resemblance to Guira and Crotophaga, although small differences in the
CRINIFER AFRICANUS
' i_= OPISTHOCOMUS HOAZIN
:, .- . ,... .. CUCULUS CANORUS
.... ,,,. CHALCITES MAYUS
,. CMATOR LEVAILLANTII
RALLUS LONGIROSTRIS
COLUMBA LIVIA
PH 6,0 PH ,0
Figure 4. The same species as in Figure 3 but using an Ampholine range of pH
6-4,
isoelectric points of a number of proteins can be discerned. The Opistho-
comus pattern shows some similarity to that of Crinifer, but less to those
of Centropus and the other cuckoos, and is unlike those of the cracids,
Railus, or Columba.
ACKqOWLEDGIEIqTS
$Ve are especially grateful to J. L. Grimmer, Woodbridge Williams, and Ram E. Singh
for providing the specimens of Hoatzin egg white. Other specimens used in the study
were provided by A. Baddokwaya, F. Contino, P. Davis, R. Dean, J. Doebell, A.
Garza, M. Goddard, J. Griffith, H. Hendrickson, L. Kiff, P. Miles, C. Perrins, N.
Proctor, G. Ragless, J. Robjent, S. Rothstein, A. Ruschi, F. Sibley, W. Spofford, F.
Todd, D. $Vells, and A. $Villiams. Dorothy J. Moore and Karen Heckmann provided
laboratory assistance and A. H. Coleman prepared the photographs. The National
Science Foundation provided support under GB-6192X.
SUMMARY
The systematic relationships of the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin), long classified with the Galliformes, have been re-evaluated in the light of data from electrophoretic comparisons of the egg-white proteins. All
evidence has been found to be consistent with an assignment to the subfamily Crotophaginae of the Cuculidae. There is no substance to the long-accepted alliance to the Galliformes and the relationship to the Musophagidae is simply that of the two families within the Cuculiformes.
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Peabody Museum of Natural History and Department of Biology, Yale
University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520. Accepted 28 April 1972.