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Taxonomy
Sulidae was named by Reichenbach (1849). It is extant. Its type is Sula.
It was assigned to Steganopodes by Zittel (1890); to Pelecanoidea by Hay (1902); to Steganopodes by Case (1904); to Suloidae by Hay (1930); to Sulides by Lambrecht (1933); to Procellariiformes by Cheneval (1984); to Pelecani by Cheneval (1993); to Sulae by Howard (1968), Olson (1985), Carroll (1988) and Olson and Hasegawa (1996); to Pelecaniformes by Brodkorb (1955), Miller and Bowman (1958), Howard (1972), Olson (1975), Howard (1978), Olson and James (1982), Howard (1982), Olson (1985), Howard and Barnes (1987), Steadman et al. (1988), Chandler (1990), Olson and Rasmussen (2001), Stucchi (2003), Gohlich (2003) and Stucchi and Urbina (2004); to Pelecaniformes by Mayr (2005); to Ardeiformes by Mlikovsky (2007); to Suloidea by Wetmore (1940), Wetmore (1956), Mayr (2002), Mayr (2005), Bourdon et al. (2005) and Livezey and Zusi (2007); to Aequornithes by Mayr (2011); and to Suliformes by del Hoyo et al. (2014), Clements et al. (2017), Mayr (2022) and Figueiredo et al. (2023).
It was assigned to Steganopodes by Zittel (1890); to Pelecanoidea by Hay (1902); to Steganopodes by Case (1904); to Suloidae by Hay (1930); to Sulides by Lambrecht (1933); to Procellariiformes by Cheneval (1984); to Pelecani by Cheneval (1993); to Sulae by Howard (1968), Olson (1985), Carroll (1988) and Olson and Hasegawa (1996); to Pelecaniformes by Brodkorb (1955), Miller and Bowman (1958), Howard (1972), Olson (1975), Howard (1978), Olson and James (1982), Howard (1982), Olson (1985), Howard and Barnes (1987), Steadman et al. (1988), Chandler (1990), Olson and Rasmussen (2001), Stucchi (2003), Gohlich (2003) and Stucchi and Urbina (2004); to Pelecaniformes by Mayr (2005); to Ardeiformes by Mlikovsky (2007); to Suloidea by Wetmore (1940), Wetmore (1956), Mayr (2002), Mayr (2005), Bourdon et al. (2005) and Livezey and Zusi (2007); to Aequornithes by Mayr (2011); and to Suliformes by del Hoyo et al. (2014), Clements et al. (2017), Mayr (2022) and Figueiredo et al. (2023).
Subtaxa
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 1849 | Sulidae Reichenbach |
| 1890 | Sulidae Zittel p. 842 |
| 1902 | Sulidae Hay p. 532 |
| 1904 | Sulidae Case p. 58 |
| 1930 | Sulidae Hay p. 291 |
| 1933 | Sulidae Lambrecht p. 284 |
| 1940 | Sulidae Wetmore p. 11 |
| 1955 | Sulidae Brodkorb p. 7 |
| 1956 | Sulidae Wetmore p. 14 |
| 1958 | Sulidae Miller and Bowman p. 8 |
| 1968 | Sulidae Howard p. 10 |
| 1972 | Sulidae Howard p. 5 |
| 1975 | Sulidae Olson p. 23 |
| 1978 | Sulidae Howard p. 15 |
| 1982 | Sulidae Howard p. 10 |
| 1982 | Sulidae Olson and James p. 33 |
| 1984 | Sulidae Cheneval p. 65 |
| 1985 | Sulidae Olson p. 158 |
| 1987 | Sulidae Howard and Barnes p. 3 |
| 1988 | Sulidae Carroll |
| 1988 | Sulidae Steadman et al. p. 487 |
| 1990 | Sulidae Chandler p. 112 |
| 1993 | Sulidae Cheneval p. 89 |
| 1996 | Sulidae Olson and Hasegawa p. 742 |
| 2001 | Sulidae Olson and Rasmussen p. 260 |
| 2002 | Sulidae Mayr p. 508 |
| 2003 | Sulidae Gohlich p. 238 |
| 2003 | Sulidae Stucchi p. 77 |
| 2004 | Sulidae Stucchi and Urbina p. 974 |
| 2005 | Sulidae Bourdon et al. p. 166 |
| 2005 | Sulidae Mayr p. 67 |
| 2007 | Sulidae Livezey and Zusi p. 91 |
| 2007 | Sulidae Mlikovsky p. 20 |
| 2011 | Sulidae Mayr p. 73 figs. Figure 5 |
| 2014 | Sulidae del Hoyo et al. |
| 2017 | Sulidae Clements et al. |
| 2022 | Sulidae Mayr p. 119 figs. Fig. 7.1 |
| 2023 | Sulidae Figueiredo et al. p. 26 |
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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.
Fm. Sulidae Reichenbach 1849 [booby]
show all | hide all
G. †Empheresula Harrison 1975
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†Empheresula arvernensis Milne-Edwards 1867
Invalid names: Parasula Harrison 1975 [synonym]
G. Morus Vieillot 1816 [gannet]
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†Moris lompocana Miller 1925
†Moris loxostyla Cope 1870
†Moris reyana Howard 1936
†Morus atlanticus Shufeldt 1915
†Morus avitus Wetmore 1938
Morus bassanus Linnaeus 1758 [northern gannett]
Morus capensis Lichtenstein 1823 [Cape gannet]
†Morus humeralis Miller and Bowman 1958
†Morus magnus Howard 1978
†Morus olsoni Grigorescu and Kessler 1988
†Morus peninsularis Brodkorb 1955
†Morus peruvianus Stucchi 2003
†Morus poolensis Chandler 1963
†Morus recentior Howard 1949
†Morus reyanus Howard 1936
Morus serrator Gray 1843 [Australasian gannet]
†Morus vagabundus Wetmore 1930
G. Papasula Olson and Warheit 1988
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Papasula abbotti Ridgway 1893 [Abbott's booby]
†Papasula abbotti costelloi Steadman et al. 1988
G. †Ramphastosula Stucchi and Urbina 2004
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†Ramphastosula aguierrei Stucchi et al. 2016
†Ramphastosula ramirezi Stucchi and Urbina 2004
G. Sula Brisson 1760
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Subg. Sula (Sula) Brisson 1760
†Sula brandi Stucchi et al. 2016
†Sula clarki Chandler 1990
Sula dactylatra Lesson 1831 [masked booby]
Sula dactylatra tasmani van Tets et al. 1988
†Sula figueroae Stucchi et al. 2016
Sula granti Rothschild 1902 [Nazca booby]
Sula leucogaster Boddaert 1783 [brown booby]
†Sula magna Stucchi 2003
Sula nebouxii Milne-Edwards 1882 [Blue-footed booby]
Sula piscator Linnaeus 1758
†Sula pohli Howard 1958
Sula sula Linnaeus 1766 [red-footed booby]
†Sula sulita Stucchi 2003
†Sula universitatis Brodkorb 1963
Sula variegata Tschudi 1843 [Peruvian booby]
†Sula willetti Miller 1925
Invalid names: Dysporus Illiger 1811 [synonym], Sula guano Brodkorb 1955 [nomen nudum], Sula phosphata Brodkorb 1955 [nomen nudum]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: subo = suborder, o = order | |||||
| References: Marsh 1875, Benton 1983 | |||||
Age range
Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Lutetian to the top of the Holocene or 47.80000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 41.3 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 41.3 Ma
Collections (174 total)
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| MP 11 | Germany (Hessen) | Masillastega rectirostris (22701) | |
| Lutetian | Romania | Eostega lebedinskyi (120554) | |
| Lutetian | United Kingdom (England) | Morus poolensis (24106) | |
| Early/Lower Oligocene | France (Auvergne Region) | Mergus ronzoni (31767) | |
| Chattian | France (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) | Empheresula arvernensis (125329) | |
| Chattian | Germany (Upper Bavaria) | Sulidae indet. (65205) | |
| Aquitanian | France (Auvergne) | Empheresula arvernensis (125333) | |
| Aquitanian - Burdigalian | USA (New Jersey) | Sula atlantica (94367) | |
| Aquitanian - Langhian | USA (North Carolina) | Morus loxostylus, Morus atlanticus (48887) | |
| Early/Lower Miocene - Middle Miocene | USA (Florida) | Sula universitatis (155057) | |
| Burdigalian | USA (Delaware) | Morus loxostylus (18579) | |
| Burdigalian | France (Bordeaux) | Microsula pygmaea (48660) | |
| Burdigalian - Langhian | Mexico (Baja California) | Morus sp. (197287) Sula sp., Sulidae indet., Morus sp. (197288) | |
| Early/Lower Hemingfordian | USA (New Jersey) | Morus loxostyla (17910) | |
| Langhian | Japan (Saitama) | Sula sp. (54183) | |
| Langhian | USA (California) | Morus sp., Morus vagabundus (74629) Sula hutchisoni, Morus vagabundus (197289) Sula sp. (59060) Sulidae indet., Morus sp., Morus vagabundus (59059) Sulidae indet., Morus vagabundus (13297) Sulidae sp., Sulidae indet., Sula willetti (19595) | |
| Langhian | USA (Virginia) | Sulidae indet. (66065) | |
| Langhian | Portugal | Morus sp. (230121) | |
| Langhian | Mexico (Baja California) | Sula sp., Morus sp. (52183) | |
| Langhian | USA (Maryland) | Moris sp., Sula avita (70818) | |
| MN 5 | Austria | Microsula pygmaea (51002) | |
| Langhian - Serravallian | USA (California) | Morus lompocanus (46069) Sulidae indet., Microsula sp., Miosula sp., Morus lompocanus (121152) | |
| Middle Miocene | USA (California) | Paleosula stocktoni (126055) Sula pohli (126054) | |
| Serravallian | Romania | Sarmatosula dobrogensis, Morus olsoni (60280) | |
| Serravallian | USA (Virginia) | Morus loxostylus (187324) Morus sp. (57700) | |
| MN 7 + 8 | Germany (Baden-Württemberg) | Empheresula sp. (49520) | |
| Clarendonian | USA (California) | Sula stocktoni (84331) | |
| Early/Lower Clarendonian | USA (Florida) | Sulidae indet. (161377) | |
| Tortonian | Peru (Arequipa) | Sula sp., Sula variegata (45485) | |
| Tortonian | USA (Florida) | Morus peninsularis, Sula guano, Sula phosphata (122351) | |
| Tortonian | USA (California) | Morus lompocanus (52185) Sula willetti (82517) Sula willetti, Miosula media, Sula lompocana (45489) Sula willetti, Morus lompocanus (52184) Sulidae indet., Morus lompocanus, Morus magnus, Miosula media (13300) | |
| Tortonian | USA (Virginia) | Sulidae indet. (60643) | |
| Tortonian | Peru | Sula magna (183918) Sula sp. (45486) Sula sp., Sula brandi, Sula figueroae (96800) Sulidae indet. (95373) | |
| Tortonian - Messinian | Peru | Sula sp. (46083) | |
| Late/Upper Miocene | Peru (Ica) | Sula sp. (45487) | |
| Messinian | Chile (Atacama) | Sula sp. (55535) | |
| Messinian | Peru (Caraveli) | Sula sp., Sula magna, Sula sulita, Morus peruvianus, Sula variegata (46084) | |
| Messinian | Mexico (Baja California) | Morus sp. (13090 45458) | |
| Messinian | Peru | Sula sp., Ramphastosula ramirezi, Ramphastosula aguierrei (13079) | |
| Zanclean | USA (California) | Sulidae indet. (50068) | |
| Zanclean | USA (North Carolina) | Morus undescribedspeciesone, Morus undescribedspeciestwo, Morus peninsularis, Morus loxostylus, Morus atlanticus, Morus avitus (52582) | |
| Zanclean | South Africa | Sula sp., Sulidae indet. (100313) | |
| Blancan | USA (California) | Morus humeralis (178003) Morus recentior (178008) Sula clarki (178005 178017) Sula sp. (177986) Sula sp., Morus humeralis (178021) Sula sp., Morus recentior (178019) | |
| Late/Upper Pliocene | Morocco | Sulidae indet. (32052) | |
| Piacenzian | Peru | Sula sp. (219058) | |
| Piacenzian | USA (California) | Miosula recentior (125944) Morus sp. (184951) Sula humeralis (19703) | |
| Early/Lower Pleistocene - Middle Pleistocene | Italy | Morus bassanus (159455) | |
| Pleistocene | USA (California) | Morus reyanus (176093) | |
| Pleistocene | United Kingdom (Scotland) | Morus bassanus (125440) | |
| Pleistocene | USA (Virginia) | Morus bassanus (104663) | |
| Middle Pleistocene | USA (Florida) | Morus bassanus (195048) | |
| Middle Pleistocene | USA (California) | Sula willetti (52242) | |
| Rancholabrean (glacial) | USA (California) | Moris reyana (20624) | |
| Late/Upper Pleistocene | USA (Virginia) | Morus bassanus (57706 73485) | |
| Late/Upper Pleistocene | Spain | Morus bassanus (122309 215709) Sulidae indet. (215694) | |
| Late/Upper Pleistocene | United Kingdom | Morus bassanus (216960) | |
| Late/Upper Pleistocene | Greece (Crete) | Sula bassana (183124) | |
| Late/Upper Pleistocene | USA (California) | Moris reyana (59063) Morus reyanus (176102) | |
| Holocene | Vanuatu (Efate) | Sula leucogaster (185434) | |
| Holocene | Australia (New South Wales) | Sula tasmani (194989 194990) | |
| Holocene | French Polynesia | Papasula abbotti (177149 193467) Sula sp., Sula sula, Sula leucogaster (194675) | |
| Holocene | French Polynesia (Society Islands) | Sula sula, Sula leucogaster (215325) | |
| Holocene | United Kingdom | Sula bassana (122100 122101 122103 122104 122106 122107 122110 122111) | |
| Holocene | Cook Islands | Sula sula (193449) | |
| Holocene | Saint Helena | Sula dactylatra (176072 194214 194220 194290) Sula dactylatra, Sula sula (176075 194278 194291) Sula sp. (194221 194225 194238) Sula sula (155782 194226 194287) | |
| Holocene | Solomon Islands | Sula dacylatra (209083) Sula sp. (209059 209071 209073 209086 209087 209098) Sula sp., Sula dactylatra (209085) Sula sp., Sula sula (209061 209079 209095 209099) Sula sp., Sula sula, Sula leucogaster (209094 209096) Sula sula (209062 209064 209065 209066 209069 209070) Sula sula, Sula leucogaster (209060 209067) | |
| Holocene | Venezuela | Sula sp. (197933) Sula sp., Sula sula (197931 197932 197934 197937) Sula sp., Sula sula, Sula leucogaster (197935) | |
| Holocene | New Zealand | Morus serrator (100554) | |
| Holocene | Brazil | Sula sp. (195071) | |
| Holocene | Bahamas | Sula leucogaster (145366) | |
| Holocene | Pitcairn | Sula dactylatra (193763 193786 193790) Sula dactylatra, Sula sula (193764) Sula sula (193793) | |
| Holocene | Marshall Islands | Sula spp. (194995 194999) | |
| Holocene | Ukraine | Morus bassanus (215547) | |
| Holocene | South Africa | Morus capensis (177146 177147 177148) | |
| Holocene | Norfolk Island | Sula dactylatra (194562 194563 194565 194566 194567) Sula tasmani (194991 194992 194993 194994) | |
| Holocene | USA (Florida) | Morus bassanus (122303 195050) | |
| Holocene | Micronesia, Federated States of | Sula spp., Sula dactylatra (194650) Sula sula (194651) | |
| Holocene | Mauritius | Sula abbotti (194025) Sula sula (194074) | |
| Holocene | American Samoa | Sula sula (193800) |