Sulidae

Gannets & Boobies 

Gannets and boobies are a group related to the cormorants, frigatebirds and pelicans. They have all strong and pointed bills without visible nostrils. This structure makes them perfectly suited for diving from considerable heights into the sea.

Gannets

Genus Morus

This genus includes three species that are obviously very closely related and sometimes considered to form a superspecies.

• Northern Gannet Morus bassanus, North Atlantic and northern Caribbean Sea and African west coast

• Cape Gannet Morus capensis, South Africa up to the equator along both east and west African coasts.

• Australasian Gannet Morus serrator, Australian and New Zealand waters.

The skulls of these species are very similar, the Northern Gannet about 20% larger than its  most southern counterpart. The Cape Gannet is only slightly smaller than the Northern.

Since there is no overlap of the distribution it is hardly possible to encounter two species in one region, although a few straggling specimens of the two southern species have been found in each others range.

	Northern Gannet Morus bassana Netherlands Culmen: 97.4 mm; total: 184 mm, unsexed adult
	Cape Gannet Morus capensis Saldanha Bay, South Africa Culmen: 93.3 mm; total: 177 mm, unsexed adult Couretsey of Marc van Leeuwen
	Australasian Gannet Morus serrator Ahipara, North Island, New Zealand Culmen: 88.0 mm; total: 166 mm, unsexed adult

Boobies

Genus Sula

This genus counts five species, all substantially smaller than the gannets, but otherwise very similar in shape and behavior.

• Peruvian Booby Sula variegata, South America.

• Blue-footed Booby Sula nebouxii, Pacific coast of Central and South America.

• Masked Booby Sula dactylatra, tropical zone of all three major oceans.

• Nazca Booby Sula granti, Galapagos Archipelago.

• Red-footed Booby Sula sula, tropical zone of all three major oceans.

• Brown Booby Sula leucogaster, tropical zone of all three major oceans.

Blue-footed Booby Sula nebouxii Isla de Plate, Ecuador Culmen: 102.8 mm; total: 153 mm, unsexed adult

Nazca Booby Sula granti Isla de Plate, Ecuador Culmen: 105.5 mm; total: 169 mm, unsexed adult

Genus Papasula

One species. A small booby with a slightly hooked bill

• Abbott’s Booby Papasula abbotti, Christmas Island.

Literature:

• Nelson, J.B,, 1978, The Sulidae, Gannets and Boobies, Oxford University Press, Oxford

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