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How might the breakup of Gondwana have influenced the evolution of New World quail?

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A peacock stands with its vibrant green and blue tail feathers fully fanned out in display, showing eye-like patterns across the plumage. — Galliform Blue, or Indian, peacock (*Pavo cristatus*) displaying its resplendent feathers.

The breakup of Gondwana is considered a potential factor in the evolutionary history of galliforms, specifically regarding the divergence of New World quail (family Odontophoridae) from other galliform birds.1

While the exact mechanisms remain a subject of study, it is scientifically conceivable that the fragmentation of this supercontinent, which occurred over 35 million years ago, influenced the geographic isolation and subsequent evolution of major galliform groups, including the ancestors of New World quail. This divergence represents a significant event in the lineage of these birds, which are distinct from the Old World species classified within the family Phasianidae.12