Molecular phylogenetic studies suggest the Coraciiformes lineage likely originated during which geological period?
Answer
Cretaceous period
The available molecular evidence indicates that the deep roots of the Coraciiformes lineage, which includes kingfishers, extend back to the Cretaceous period, meaning they coexisted with non-avian dinosaurs.

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Related Questions
To which ancient avian order do kingfishers (Alcedinidae) belong alongside rollers and todies?Molecular phylogenetic studies suggest the Coraciiformes lineage likely originated during which geological period?Approximately how many million years ago might the ancestors of the modern kingfisher have appeared based on available data for their order?Fossil evidence attributed to the broader Coraciiformes order has been identified dating back to which epoch?Which three main subfamilies organize the modern diversity of kingfishers?Which subfamily of kingfishers typically exhibits broader and more robust bills suited for seizing insects and terrestrial prey?The major radiation into the three modern kingfisher subfamilies stabilized approximately how long ago?The split between the Cerylinae (water specialists) and the rest of the kingfisher group likely occurred during which epoch?What is the key adaptation focus listed for the Cerylinae subfamily in the provided comparison table?Into which subfamily are Kookaburras currently firmly placed by ornithologists?The colonization and subsequent speciation of the water-loving Cerylinae across North America likely occurred over the last how many million years across the Coraciiformes as a whole?