Order PELECANIFORMES: Pelicans, Gannets

Text extracted from Gill B.J.; Bell, B.D.; Chambers, G.K.; Medway, D.G.; Palma, R.L.; Scofield, R.P.; Tennyson, A.J.D.; Worthy, T.H. 2010. Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica. 4th edition. Wellington, Te Papa Press and Ornithological Society of New Zealand. Pages 138 & 153.

Order PELECANIFORMES: Pelicans, Gannets, Cormorants and Allies The close relationship between the families Sulidae, Phalacrocoracidae and Anhingidae has been supported by most recent work, however, the monophyly of the traditional larger grouping of Pelecaniformes is the subject of ongoing debate (e.g. Sibley & Ahlquist 1990, Johnsgard 1993, Christidis & Boles 1994, Kennedy et al. 2000, Livezey & Zusi 2001, van Tuinen et al. 2001, Fain & Houde 2004, Kennedy & Spencer 2004, Nelson 2005, Christidis & Boles 2008). For this reason we have separated Phaethontidae to its own order. We are aware that Pelecanus may be related to Ciconiiformes (see Christidis & Boles 2008), but we retain the traditional grouping in the absence of a resolution of these higher-level relationships. Given the uncertainty, the suborders and superfamilies followed by Checklist Committee (1990) have not been used here. Otherwise, a traditional approach to the families is retained, pending resolution of the issues. The sequence of pelecaniform families follows Checklist Committee (1990) for consistency, and agrees with del Hoyo et al. (1992). The sequence of species within families follows Checklist Committee (1990) unless noted.

Family ANHINGIDAE Lesson: Darters Anhingas Lesson, 1831: Traité d’Ornith. 8: 598 – Type genus Anhinga Brisson, 1760.

Genus Anhinga Brisson Anhinga Brisson, 1760: Ornithologie 1: 60; 6: 476 – Type species (by tautonymy and monotypy) Plotus anhinga Linnaeus = Anhinga anhinga (Linnaeus).

Anhinga melanogaster Pennant Darter Anhinga melanogaster Pennant, 1769: Indian Zool.: 13, pl. 12 – Sri Lanka, and Java, Indonesia.

Three or four subspecies usually recognised (Marchant & Higgins 1990, del Hoyo et al. 1992, Johnsgard 1993, Christidis & Boles 1994, Dickinson 2003): A. m. melanogaster (India to South-east Asia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Philippines and Sulawesi), A. m. rufa (Daudin, 1802) (Africa and Middle East), A. m. novaehollandiae (New Guinea and Australia), and sometimes A. m. vulsini Bangs, 1918 (Madagascar).

Anhinga melanogaster novaehollandiae Gould Australian Darter Plotus Novae-Hollandiae Gould, 1847: Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1847 (15): 34 – “Southern coast of Australia” = New South Wales (fide Mathews 1913, List Birds Australia: 97). Plotus novae-hollandiae Gould; Hutton 1904, Index Faunae N.Z.: 39. Plotus novaehollandiae novaehollandiae Gould; Mathews & Iredale 1913, Ibis 1 (10th ser.): 416. Anhinga novae-hollandiae (Gould); Stidolph 1927, Emu 26: 215. Anhinga novaehollandiae (Gould); Oliver 1930, New Zealand Birds, 1st edition: 201. Anhinga rufa novaehollandiae (Gould); Checklist Committee 1953, Checklist N.Z. Birds: 31. Anhinga melanogaster novaehollandiae (Gould); Cramp et al. 1977, Birds Western Palearctic 1: 223. Anhinga melanogaster rufa; Checklist Committee 1990, Checklist Birds N.Z.: 133. Not Plotus rufus Daudin, 1802.

Australia and New Guinea. Four or five stragglers recorded in New Zealand: possibly seen in “summer” 1862 Lake Ohau; one dead Jan. 1874 Hokitika (Buller 1875, Oliver 1955, van Tets & Scarlett 1972). Also live birds: Dec. 1992 Waiharara, Northland (Medway 2000a); Dec. 2003 Wellington Harbour (Medway 2004b); and Nov. 2003 Lake Daniell, Nelson (Scofield 2005a). This race is sometimes considered to be a full species (Marchant & Higgins 1990, del Hoyo et al. 1992).