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Taxonomy
Pelecaniformes was named by Sharpe (1891). It is extant.
It was reranked as the suborder Pelecaniformes by Hay (1930); it was considered an invalid subgroup of Neornithes by Bourdon et al. (2005); it was reranked as the unranked clade Pelecaniformes by Mayr (2005).
It was assigned to Carinatae by Hay (1930); to Neognathae by Wetmore (1940), Wetmore (1956), Wetmore (1960), Carroll (1988) and Kurochkin (2000); to Neornithes by Hope (2002); to Neognathae by Mayr (2005); to Aves by Baird (1992), Louchart et al. (2008) and Stidham et al. (2014); to Aves by Howard (1972), Simpson (1972), Guthrie (1992), Sepkoski (2002) and del Hoyo et al. (2014); to Pelecanimorphae by Livezey and Zusi (2007) and Sangster and Mayr (2021); and to Aequornithes by Mayr (2022).
It was reranked as the suborder Pelecaniformes by Hay (1930); it was considered an invalid subgroup of Neornithes by Bourdon et al. (2005); it was reranked as the unranked clade Pelecaniformes by Mayr (2005).
It was assigned to Carinatae by Hay (1930); to Neognathae by Wetmore (1940), Wetmore (1956), Wetmore (1960), Carroll (1988) and Kurochkin (2000); to Neornithes by Hope (2002); to Neognathae by Mayr (2005); to Aves by Baird (1992), Louchart et al. (2008) and Stidham et al. (2014); to Aves by Howard (1972), Simpson (1972), Guthrie (1992), Sepkoski (2002) and del Hoyo et al. (2014); to Pelecanimorphae by Livezey and Zusi (2007) and Sangster and Mayr (2021); and to Aequornithes by Mayr (2022).
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 1891 | Pelecaniformes Sharpe |
| 1930 | Pelecaniformes Hay p. 289 |
| 1940 | Pelecaniformes Wetmore p. 10 |
| 1956 | Pelecaniformes Wetmore p. 12 |
| 1960 | Pelecaniformes Wetmore p. 24 |
| 1972 | Pelecaniformes Howard p. 5 |
| 1972 | Pelicaniformes Simpson p. 30 |
| 1988 | Pelecaniformes Carroll |
| 1992 | Pelecaniformes Baird p. 24 |
| 1992 | Pelecaniformes Guthrie p. 321 |
| 2000 | Pelecaniformes Kurochkin p. 551 |
| 2002 | Pelecaniformes Hope p. 367 |
| 2002 | Pelecaniformes Sepkoski |
| 2005 | Pelecaniformes Mayr p. 318 |
| 2007 | Pelecaniformes Livezey and Zusi p. 91 |
| 2008 | Pelecaniformes Louchart et al. p. 151 |
| 2014 | Pelecaniformes Stidham et al. p. 2 |
| 2014 | Pelecaniformes del Hoyo et al. |
| 2021 | Pelecaniformes Sangster and Mayr p. 50 |
| 2022 | Pelecaniformes Mayr p. 119 figs. Fig. 7.1 |
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If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.
Or. Pelecaniformes Sharpe 1891
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Fm. Ardeidae Leach 1820 [heron]
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G. Ardea Linnaeus 1758 [heron]
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Ardea alba Linnaeus 1758 [great egret]
Ardea alba egretta Gmelin 1789
†Ardea aurelianensis Milne-Edwards 1871
Ardea brachyrhyncha Brehm 1854 [Yellow-billed egret]
†Ardea brunhuberi von Ammon 1911
Ardea cinerea Linnaeus 1758 [gray heron]
Ardea cocoi Linnaeus 1766 [cocoi heron]
†Ardea effosa von Meyer 1843
†Ardea formosa Milne-Edwards 1871
Ardea goliath Cretzschmar 1827 [Goliath heron]
Ardea herodias Linnaeus 1758 [great blue heron]
Ardea humbloti Milne-Edwards and Grandidier 1885 [Humblot's heron]
Ardea insignis Hume 1878 [White-bellied heron]
Ardea intermedia Wagler 1829 [intermediate egret]
†Ardea latipes von Meyer 1843
†Ardea lignitum Gibel 1860
Ardea melanocephala Vigors and Children 1826 [Black-headed heron]
Ardea modesta Gray 1831
Ardea pacifica Latham 1801 [White-necked heron]
†Ardea paloccidentalis Shufeldt 1891
†Ardea piveteaui Brunet 1970
Ardea plumifera Gould 1848 [Plumed egret]
†Ardea polkensis Brodkorb 1955
Ardea purpurea Linnaeus 1766 [purple heron]
Ardea sumatrana Raffles 1822 [Great-billed heron]
Invalid names: Casmerodius Gloger 1842 [synonym], Herodias Boie 1822 [synonym]
Subfm. Ardeinae
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G. †Proardea Lambrecht 1933
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†Proardea amissa Milne-Edwards 1892
†Proardea deschutteri Mayr et al. 2019
Invalid names: Ardeini Bock 1956 [empty], Nycticoracini Bonaparte 1854 [empty]
Subfm. Botaurinae Reichenbach 1850
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Tr. Tigriornithini Bock 1956
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G. Tigrisoma Swainson 1827
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Tigrisoma lineatum Boddaert 1783 [Rufescent tiger-heron]
Tigrisoma mexicanum Swainson 1834 [bare-throated tiger-heron]
Invalid names: Botaurini [empty]
G. Botaurus Stephens 1819
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Botaurus lentiginosus Rackett 1813 [American bittern]
Botaurus pinnatus Wagler 1829 [Pinnated bittern]
Botaurus poiciloptilus Wagler 1827 [Australasian bittern]
Botaurus stellaris Linnaeus 1758 [great bittern]
G. Butorides Blyth 1852
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Butorides striata Linnaeus 1758 [striated heron]
†Butorides validipes Campbell 1976
Butorides virescens Linnaeus 1758 [green heron]
G. Egretta Forster 1817 [egret]
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Egretta caerulea Linnaeus 1758 [little blue heron]
Egretta garzetta Linnaeus 1766 [little egret]
Egretta garzetta dimorpha Hartert 1914 [dimorphic egret]
Egretta novaehollandiae Latham 1790 [White-faced heron]
Egretta picata Gould 1845 [pied heron]
Egretta sacra Gmelin 1789 [Pacific reef-heron]
†Egretta subfluvia Becker 1985
Egretta thula Molina 1782 [snowy egret]
Egretta tricolor Statius Muller 1776 [tricolor heron]
Invalid names: Florida Baird 1858 [synonym], Hydranassa Baird 1858 [synonym], Leucophoyx Sharpe 1894 [synonym]
G. Ixobrychus Billberg 1828 [Least bittern]
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Ixobrychus cinnamomeus Gmelin 1789 [Cinnamon bittern]
Ixobrychus dubius Matthews 1912 [Australian little bittern]
Ixobrychus eurhythmus Swinhoe 1873 [Schrenck's bittern]
Ixobrychus exilis Gmelin 1789 [least bittern]
Ixobrychus flavicollis Latham 1790 [Black bittern]
Ixobrychus involucris Vieillot 1823 [Stripe-backed bittern]
Ixobrychus minutus Linnaeus 1766 [Common little bittern]
Ixobrychus novaezelandiae Potts 1871 [New Zealand little bittern]
Ixobrychus sinensis Gmelin 1789 [Yellow bittern]
Ixobrychus sturmii Wagler 1827 [Dwarf bittern]
G. Nyctanassa Stejneger 1887
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†Nyctanassa carcinocatactes Olson and Wingate 2006 [Bermuda night heron]
Nyctanassa violacea Linnaeus 1758 [yellow-crowned night heron]
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Invalid names: Larus vero Shufeldt 1917 [synonym]
G. Nycticorax Forster 1817 [night heron]
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Nycticorax caledonicus Gmelin 1789 [rufous night-heron]
†Nycticorax duboisi Rothschild 1907 [Réunion night heron]
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Invalid names: Nycticorax borbonensis Cowles 1994 [synonym]
†Nycticorax fidens Brodkorb 1963
†Nycticorax kalavikai Steadman et al. 2000 [Niue night heron]
†Nycticorax mauritianus Newton and Gadow 1893 [Mauritius night heron]
†Nycticorax megacephalus Milne-Edwards 1874 [Rodrigues night heron]
Nycticorax nycticorax Linnaeus 1758 [black-crowned night heron]
†Nycticorax olsoni Bourne et al. 2003 [Ascension night heron]
G. Syrigma Ridgway 1824 [whistling heron]
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†Syrigma sanctimartini Campbell 1979
Syrigma sibilatrix Temminck 1824 [Whistling heron]
G. †Zeltornis Balouet 1981
Subor. †Cladornithes Wetmore 1960
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Fm. Pelecanidae Vigors 1825 [pelican]
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G. Pelecanus Linnaeus 1758 [pelican]
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Subg. †Pelecanus (Cyrtopelicanus) Reichenbach 1852
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†Pelecanus (Cyrtopelicanus) halieus Wetmore 1933
Subg. Pelecanus (Leptopelicanus) Reichenback 1852
†Pelecanus cadimurka Rich and Van Tets 1981
†Pelecanus cautleyi Davies 1880
Pelecanus conspicillatus Temminck 1824 [Australian pelican]
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Invalid names: Pelecanus grandiceps De Vis 1905 [synonym]
Pelecanus crispus Bruch 1832 [Dalmatian pelican]
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin 1789 [American white pelican]
†Pelecanus novaezealandiae Scarlett 1966
Pelecanus occidentalis Linnaeus 1766 [brown pelican]
†Pelecanus odessanus Widhalm 1866
Pelecanus onocrotalus Linnaaeus 1758
†Pelecanus proavus De Vis 1892
Pelecanus rufescens Gmelin 1789 [pink-backed pelican]
†Pelecanus schreiberi Olson 1999
†Pelecanus sivalensis Davies 1880
Pelecanus thagus Molina 1782 [Peruvian pelican]
†Pelecanus tirarensis Miller 1966
Fm. †Protoplotidae van Tets et al. 1989
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Subor. †Steganopodes
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Infraor. Pelecanides
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Invalid names: Pelecanida [empty]
Fm. Threskiornithidae Richmond 1917 [ibis]
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G. Eudocimus Wagler 1832
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Eudocimus albus Linnaeus 1758 [White ibis]
†Eudocimus leiseyi Emslie 1995
†Eudocimus peruvianus Campbell 1979 [ibis]
Eudocimus ruber Linnaeus 1758 [Scarlet ibis]
Invalid names: Guara Reichenbach 1852 [synonym]
G. Geronticus Wagler 1832 [bald ibis]
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Geronticus eremita Linnaeus 1758 [northern bald ibis]
†Geronticus perplexus Milne-Edwards 1871
G. Nipponia Reichenbach 1850 [Asian crested ibis]
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Nipponia nippon Temminck 1835 [Asian crested ibis]
G. Platalea Linnaeus 1758 [spoonbills]
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Platalea ajaja Linnaeus 1758 [roseate spoonbill]
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Invalid names: Platea rosea Brisson 1760 [synonym]
Platalea alba Scopoli 1786 [African spoonbill]
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Invalid names: Platalea tenuirostris Temminck 1820 [synonym]
Platalea flavipes Gould 1838 [yellow-billed spoonbill]
Platalea leucorodia Linnaeus 1758 [Eurasian spoonbill]
Platalea minor Temminck and Schlegel 1849 [Black-faced spoonbill]
Platalea regia Gould 1838 [Royal spoonbill]
Platalea subtenuis De Vis 1892
Invalid names: Ajaja Reichenbach 1853 [synonym], Platibis Bonaparte 1856 [synonym]
G. Plegadis Kaup 1829
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Plegadis autumnalis Hasselqvist 1762
Plegadis chihi Vieillot 1817 [white-faced ibis]
Plegadis falcinellus Linnaeus 1766 [glossy ibis]
†Plegadis paganus Milne-Edwards 1868
†Plegadis pharangites Olson 1981
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Invalid names: Plegadis gracilis Miller and Bowman 1956 [replaced]
Subfm. †Rhynchaeitinae Mayr 2002
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G. †Rhynchaeites Wittich 1898
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†Rhynchaeites litoralis Mayr and Kitchener 2023
†Rhynchaeites messelensis Wittich 1898
Invalid names: Plumumida Hoch 1980 [synonym]
G. Threskiornis Gray 1842
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Threskiornis aethiopicus Latham 1790 [sacred ibis]
Threskiornis bernieri Bonaparte 1855 [Madagascar sacred ibis]
Threskiornis melanocephalus Latham 1790 [Black-headed ibis]
Threskiornis molucca Cuvier 1829 [Australian ibis]
†Threskiornis solitarius Selys-Longchamps 1848 [Réunion ibis]
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Invalid names: Borbonibis latipes Mourer-Chauviré and Moutou 1987 [synonym]
Threskiornis spinicollis Jameson 1835 [Straw-necked ibis]
Invalid names: Apterornis Selys-Longchamps 1848 [synonym], Borbonibis Mourer-Chauviré and Moutou 1987 [synonym]
Subfm. Threskiornithinae Richmond 1917 [ibis]
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Invalid names: Plataleinae Bonaparte 1838 [empty]
Invalid names: Fregatae Sharpe 1891 [empty], Odontopteryges Lambrecht 1933 [empty], Odontopterygia Spulski 1910 [empty]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: subo = suborder, o = order | |||||
| References: Bush and Bambach 2015, Marsh 1875, Benton 1983 | |||||
Age range
Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Late/Upper Maastrichtian to the top of the Holocene or 70.60000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 66.0 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 66.0 Ma
Collections (263 total)
Oldest occurrences | |||
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late/Upper Maastrichtian | USA (Wyoming) | Torotix clemensi (14585) | |
| Paleocene - Eocene | Indonesia (Sumatra) | Protoplotus beauforti (142350) | |
| Ypresian | United Kingdom (England) | Rhynchaeites sp., Rhynchaeites litoralis (227361) | |
| Wasatchian | USA (Wyoming) | Vadaravis brownae (74617) | |
| MP 11 | Germany (Hessen) | Rhynchaeites messelensis (22701) | |
| Middle Eocene | USA (Wyoming) | Botauroides parvus (81457) Eoceornis ardetta (81455) | |
| Middle Eocene - Late/Upper Eocene | Chile | Ardeidae indet. (99479) | |
| Bartonian | Myanmar | Threskiornithidae indet. (41393) | |
| Priabonian | France (Ile-de-France Region) | Protopelicanus cuvierii (31739) | |
| Priabonian | Egypt (Fayum) | Eopelecanus aegyptiacus (74738) | |
| Priabonian | France (Ile-de-France) | Ardea piveteaui (177531) | |
| Late/Upper Eocene | United Kingdom (England) | Actiornis anglicus (181272) | |
| Early/Lower Oligocene | Belgium | Proardea deschutteri (31748) | |
| Early/Lower Oligocene | France | Pelecaniformes indet. (69805) | |
| Rupelian | USA (Washington) | Phalacrocoracoidea indet. (62246) | |
| Rupelian | Egypt (Fayum) | Nycticorax sp. (12960) | |
| Oligocene | Argentina | Cladornis pachypus, Cruschedula revola (74644) | |
| Late/Upper Oligocene | Australia (South Australia) | Pelecanus tirarensis (51412 216700) | |
| Aquitanian | France (Auvergne) | Proardeola walkeri, Plegadis paganus, Miopelecanus gracillis (125333) | |
| Miocene | USA (South Carolina) | Palaeochenoides mioceanus (18506) | |