Suliformes

The order Suliformes (dubbed "Phalacrocoraciformes" by Christidis & Boles 2008) is an order recognised by the International Ornithologist's Union. In regard to the recent evidence that the traditional Pelecaniformes is polyphyletic, it has been suggested that the group be split up to reflect the true evolutionary relationships.

Systematics and evolution[edit]
Of the families in Pelecaniformes, only Pelecanidae, Balaenicipitidae, and Scopidae remain. The tropicbird family Phaethontidae has since been moved to their own order Phaethontiformes. Genetic analysis seems to show that the Pelecaniformes is actually closely related to the Ardeidae and Threskiornithidae. As for the Suliformes, they are distantly related to the current Pelecaniformes. According to Hackett et al. (2008), loons, penguins, storks, and as well as Suliformes and Pelecaniformes, all seem to have evolved from a common ancestor. The proposed waterbird superorder has been suggested.

In their landmark 2008 work Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds, Australian ornithologists Les Christidis and Walter E. Boles coined the name Phalacrocoraciformes for the group due to the much greater number of species of cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) over boobies and gannets (Sulidae). However, this has not been taken up elsewhere.

In 1994, American ornithologist Walter J. Bock wrote that the name Suloidea had been used consistently as a term for a superfamily containing the two families, so therefore "Sulidae" and not "Phalacrocoracidae" should take priority in any arrangement containing the two genera.

In 2010, the AOU adopted the term Suliformes for the taxon. The IOC followed in 2011.

In 1994, Martyn Kennedy and colleagues constructed a behavioural data set, with the resulting tree showing a high level of congruence with existing phylogenies based on genetics or morphology. It showed the darters as sister group to the cormorants and shags, with the gannets and boobies, then pelicans, then frigatebirds and lastly tropicbirds as progressively earlier offshoots. Cladogram based on Gibb, G.C. et al. (2013)

Species[edit]
Bones of the left foot of Fregata aquila showing pectinate edge to mid claw, a characteristic of the Suliformes.

Little cormorant Phalacrocorax niger
 * Fregatidae
 * Magnificent frigatebird or man o'war, Fregata magnificens
 * Ascension frigatebird, Fregata aquila
 * Christmas Island frigatebird, Fregata andrewsi
 * Great frigatebird, Fregata minor
 * Lesser frigatebird, Fregata ariel
 * Sulidae
 * Blue-footed booby, Sula nebouxii
 * Peruvian booby, Sula variegata
 * Masked booby, Sula dactylatra
 * Nazca booby, Sula granti
 * Red-footed booby, Sula sula
 * Brown booby, Sula leucogaster
 * Abbott's booby, Papasula abbotti
 * Northern gannet, Morus bassanus
 * Cape gannet, Morus capensis
 * Australasian gannet, Morus serrator
 * Phalacrocoracidae
 * Double-crested cormorant or white-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus
 * Neotropic cormorant or olivaceous cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus (or Phalacrocorax olivaceus)
 * Little black cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
 * Great cormorant or black shag, Phalacrocorax carbo
 * White-breasted cormorant, Phalacrocorax lucidus
 * Indian cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
 * Cape cormorant, Phalacrocorax capensis
 * Socotra cormorant, Phalacrocorax nigrogularis
 * Wahlberg's cormorant or bank cormorant, Phalacrocorax neglectus
 * Temminck's cormorant or Japanese cormorant, Phalacrocorax capillatus
 * Brandt's cormorant, Phalacrocorax penicillatus
 * Spectacled cormorant, Phalacrocorax perspicillatus - extinct (c. 1850)
 * Common shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis
 * Pelagic cormorant or Baird's cormorant, Phalacrocorax pelagicus
 * Red-faced cormorant, Phalacrocorax urile
 * Rock shag, Phalacrocorax magellanicus
 * Guanay cormorant, Phalacrocorax bougainvillii
 * Pied cormorant or yellow-faced cormorant, Phalacrocorax varius
 * Black-faced cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscescens
 * King shag or rough-faced shag, Phalacrocorax carunculatus
 * Stewart Island shag, Phalacrocorax chalconotus
 * Chatham shag, Phalacrocorax onslowi
 * Auckland shag, Phalacrocorax colensoi
 * Campbell shag, Phalacrocorax campbelli
 * Bounty shag, Phalacrocorax ranfurlyi
 * Imperial shag or blue-eyed shag, Phalacrocorax atriceps
 * White-bellied shag, Phalacrocorax atriceps albiventer
 * Antarctic shag, Phalacrocorax bransfieldensis
 * South Georgia shag, Phalacrocorax georgianus
 * Heard shag, Phalacrocorax nivalis
 * Crozet shag, Phalacrocorax melanogenis
 * Kerguelen shag, Phalacrocorax verrucosus
 * Macquarie shag, Phalacrocorax purpurascens
 * Red-legged cormorant, Phalacrocorax gaimardi
 * Spotted shag Phalacrocorax punctatus
 * Pitt shag or Featherstone's shag Phalacrocorax featherstoni
 * Little pied cormorant, Phalacrocorax melanoleucos
 * Long-tailed cormorant, Phalacrocorax africanus
 * Crowned cormorant, Phalacrocorax coronatus
 * Little cormorant, Phalacrocorax niger
 * Pygmy cormorant, Phalacrocorax pygmaeus
 * Flightless cormorant, Phalacrocorax harrisi
 * Anhingidae
 * Anhinga or American darter, Anhinga anhinga
 * Oriental darter or Indian darter, Anhinga melanogaster
 * African darter, Anhinga rufa
 * Australasian darter or Australian darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae