What is the genus classification for modern magpies like the Eurasian Magpie?
Answer
*Pica*
Modern magpies, including species such as the Black-billed, Yellow-billed, and Eurasian Magpie (*Pica pica*), are classified under the genus *Pica*. This specific genus represents the lineage that has been traced back through direct ancestors like *Pica praepica* found in New Zealand, dating back about 19 million years. Distinguishing the genus *Pica* from the broader family Corvidae (the crow family) helps pinpoint the age associated with the recognizable characteristics of contemporary magpies, as opposed to the entire group's origin.
Related Questions
What species is the oldest known fossil belonging to the magpie family Corvidae?Where were fossils of *Archaeocorvus meadewaldenis* (AMRI) unearthed?How old are the fossils identified as *Pica praepica* from New Zealand?To which geological epoch does the 25-million-year-old *Archaeocorvus meadewaldenis* date?What is the genus classification for modern magpies like the Eurasian Magpie?What is the approximate age difference between the earliest *family* and *genus* ancestors?Which region yielded fossils clearly identifying the direct ancestral line of the *Pica* genus?What enduring characteristic allowed the lineage of modern magpies to persist across vast timescales?What cognitive trait's foundations were likely established in *Pica praepica* 19 million years ago?What specific field mark helps differentiate modern North American *Pica* species like Black-billed and Yellow-billed?