Suliformes

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 divided to reflect the true evolutionary relationships, a 2017 study indicated that they are most closely related to Otidiformes (bustards) and Ciconiiformes (storks).
Systematics and evolution
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
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
Pygmy cormorant, Microcarbo pygmaeus
Reed cormorant, Microcarbo africanus
Crowned cormorant, Microcarbo coronatus
Little cormorant, Microcarbo niger
Little pied cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos
Brandt's cormorant, Urile penicillatus
Red-faced cormorant, Urile urile
Pelagic cormorant, Urile pelagicus
† Spectacled cormorant, Urile perspicillatus (extinct)
Bank cormorant, Phalacrocorax neglectus
Socotra cormorant, Phalacrocorax nigrogularis
Pitt shag, Phalacrocorax featherstoni
Spotted shag, Phalacrocorax punctatus
Black-faced cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscescens
Australian pied cormorant, Phalacrocorax varius
Little black cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Indian cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
Cape cormorant, Phalacrocorax capensis
Japanese cormorant, Phalacrocorax capillatus
White-breasted cormorant, Phalacrocorax lucidus
Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
European shag, Gulosus aristotelis
Flightless cormorant, Nannopterum harrisi
Neotropic cormorant, Nannopterum brasilianum
Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum
Rock shag, Leucocarbo magellanicus
Guanay cormorant, Leucocarbo bougainvillii
Bounty shag, Leucocarbo ranfurlyi
New Zealand king shag, Leucocarbo carunculatus
Chatham shag, Leucocarbo onslowi
Otago shag, Leucocarbo chalconotus
Foveaux shag, Leucocarbo stewarti
Auckland shag, Leucocarbo colensoi
Campbell shag, Leucocarbo campbelli
Imperial shag, Leucocarbo atriceps
South Georgia shag, Leucocarbo georgianus
Crozet shag, Leucocarbo melanogenis
Antarctic shag, Leucocarbo bransfieldensis
Kerguelen shag, Leucocarbo verrucosus
Heard Island shag, Leucocarbo nivalis
Macquarie shag, Leucocarbo purpurascens
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
References
Seabirds
Bird orders
Taxa named by Richard Bowdler Sharpe