Procellariidae

Fulmars: Fulmarini

Southern Giant Petrel © Eric Preston

Fulmars are a distinct but diverse group of petrels that evolved from one early split from the ancient tubenose lineage, around 15 My ago (Sibley & Ahlquist 1990). Penhallurick & Wink (2004) calculated a much earlier evolution of the fulmars, more than 26 My ago, and Nunn (1994) placed the origin of the fulmarines in late Oligocene > 23 My ago.
Most species of this group occur in the Southern Hemisphere, only Fulmarus glacialis is a northern representative. Although there is a great difference in size, bill shape, colouring and behaviour, the members of this group show strong similarities in their skeletal structure. The differences are very much related to the environment they occupy and their respective foraging strategies. The enourmous hooked bill of the Giant Petrel (Macronectes) is the perfect tool for this vulture of the southern seas. The small bill of the Snow petrel (Pagodroma) and the relative broad bill of the Cape Pigeon (Daption) are each good examples of the variety of feeding strategies on the other end of the spectrum. The 'true' Fulmars (Fulmarus) and the Antarctic Petrel (Thalassoica) take a position somewhere in between.
The evolution and taxonomy of the fulmars is treated in the respective chapters.
 
  • Macronectes
  • Fulmarus 
  • Thalassoica
  • Daption

  • Pagodroma

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    Literature
  • Bourne W.R.P. & Warham J., 1966, Geographical variation in the giant petrels of the genus Macronectes, Ardea 54: 45-67

  • Creuwels J.C.S, Poncet S., Hodum P.J., Van Franeker J.A., 2007, Distribution and abundance of the Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides, (Polar Biol, Springer Verlag, in press)

  • Fisher J., 1952, The Fulmar, Collins, London

  • Penhallurick J. & Wink M., 2004, Analysis of the taxonomy and nomenclature of the Procellariiformes based om complete nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochreome b gene, Emu, 2004, 104, 125-147

  • Salomonsen, F., 1965, The geographical variation of the Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis and the zones of marine environment in the North Atlantic, The Auk 82: 327-355

  • Van den Hoff, J & Newbery, K., 2006, Southern Giant Petrels Macronectes giganteus diving on submerged carrion, Marine Ornithology 34: 61-64

  • Van Franeker, J.A. & Wattel, J., 1982, Geographical variation of the Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis in the North Atantic, Ardea 70: 31-44

  • Voous, K.H., 1949, The morphological, anatomical, and distributional relationship of the Arctic and Antarctic Fulmars (Aves, Procellariidae), Ardea 37: 113-122

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