Kagu close relationship between the kagu and sunbittern. The kagu and sunbittern, and possibly the adzebills, seem to form a distinct Gondwanan lineage of birds, possibly one order, possibly more, though the relationships between them and groups previously considered related, such as the mesites and the "core Gruiformes," are not yet resolved. It is notable, however, that the sunbittern and the mesites possess powder down too, whereas the "core Gruiformes" do not. While the kagu is the only living species in the clade Rhynochetidae, a larger species, the lowland kagu ("Rhynochetos orarius"), has been described from Holocene subfossil remains. The measurements
Kagu-tsuchi "Engishiki", a source which contains the myth, Izanami, in her death throes, bears the water god Mizuhame, instructing her to pacify Kagu-tsuchi if he should become violent. This story also contains references to traditional fire-fighting tools: gourds for carrying water and wet clay and water reeds for smothering fires. The name "Kagutsuchi" was originally a compound phrase, consisting of "kagu", an Old Japanese root verb meaning "to shine"; "tsu", the Old Japanese possessive particle; and "chi", an Old Japanese root meaning "force, power". Kagutsuchi was the patron deity of blacksmiths and ceramic workers. He is worshipped in several shrines, one