Synonym: Lonchodytes pterygius Brodkorb 1963 [nomen dubium]
Parent taxon: Aves according to B. C. Livezey and R. L. Zusi 2007
Sister taxa: Accipitriformes, Aegotheliformes, Aletornis, Avimimiformes, Avipedidae, Callaeidae, Chaoyangornithidae, Charadriiformes, Colymbiformes, Emeidae, Eoaves, Eremopezidae, Gansuiformes, Gastornithiformes, Hwangsanipes, Ignotornidae, Jeholornithiformes, Jindongornipodidae, Koreanornipodidae, Liaoxiornithidae, Manu, Meliphagidae, Metornithes, Monarchidae, Mystiornithiformes, Odontornithes, Omnivoropterygiformes, Ornithothoraces, Ornithurae, Palaeoaves, Pangalliformes, Pansphenisciformes, Petroicidae, Proornis, Protoaviformes, Pygostylia, Rahona, Sapeornithiformes, Shandongornipodidae, Sphenisciformes, Stereornithes, Struthiones, Tatarornipes, Trisauropodiscidae, Tshulia, Tubinares, Turnagridae, Uhangrichnus, Zhongjianornis, Zhongornis
Subtaxa: Aequornithes, Caenagnathiformes, Ceramornis, Neognathae, Odontognathae, Palaeognathae, Picocoraciae, Plotopteridae, Yacoraitichnus
Ecology: ground dwelling carnivore