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Suliformes facts for kids

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Suliformes
Temporal range: Eocene - present 50–0Ma
Northern Gannet 2006 2.jpg
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus)
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Aequornithes
Order: Suliformes
Sharpe, 1891
Type species
Sula leucogaster
Boddaert, 1783
Families

The Suliformes are a group of birds that mostly live near water. They include cool birds like frigatebirds, gannets, boobies, cormorants, and darters. These birds are known for their special ways of catching fish and moving around in the water. Scientists have studied their DNA to understand how they are related to other birds. They are now recognized as their own distinct group.

Meet the Suliformes: What makes them special?

Suliformes are a fascinating group of birds. They are all connected by their shared family tree. These birds are often found near oceans, lakes, and rivers. They are excellent at fishing and diving.

How Suliformes are related to other birds

For a long time, scientists grouped many water birds together. But with new genetic tests, they found that some birds were not as closely related as once thought. The Suliformes were once part of a larger group called Pelecaniformes. Now, only pelicans, shoebills, and hammerkops remain in the Pelecaniformes group.

Scientists believe that Suliformes are distantly related to these pelican-like birds. They also think that Suliformes, along with loons, penguins, and storks, might all come from a very old common ancestor. This idea suggests a "superorder" of waterbirds.

Understanding the Suliformes family tree

Scientists use special diagrams called cladograms to show how different animals are related. These diagrams help us see which groups split off first. For Suliformes, the frigatebirds seem to be the earliest group to branch off. After them come the gannets and boobies. Then, the darters and cormorants are very closely related to each other.

This family tree helps us understand the evolution of these amazing birds. It shows how they developed their unique features over millions of years.

Types of Suliformes: Families and species

The Suliformes order includes several families, each with its own unique birds. Here are the main families and some of their cool members:

Frigatebirds: Masters of the air

Frigatebirds are known for their huge wings and long, forked tails. They are amazing flyers and can stay in the air for days! They often steal food from other birds. Their feet have a special comb-like edge on the middle claw. This is a unique feature of Suliformes.

Fregata foot bones
Bones of the left foot of Fregata aquila showing the comb-like edge on the middle claw.

Gannets and boobies: Expert divers

Gannets and boobies are fantastic divers. They plunge headfirst into the water to catch fish. They have strong, pointed beaks perfect for this.

Cormorants: Underwater hunters

Cormorants are excellent swimmers and divers. They use their strong legs and webbed feet to chase fish underwater. They often come to the surface to dry their wings in the sun.

Little Cormorant (Phalacrocorax niger) in Hyderabad W IMG 8389
Little cormorant Microcarbo niger

Darters: The "snakebirds"

Darters are also known as "snakebirds" because of their long, thin necks. When they swim, only their neck and head are visible above the water. They spear fish with their sharp beaks.

Images for kids

  • Northern Gannet 2006 2

    Northern gannet (Morus bassanus)

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