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Which bird families were traditionally included in the order Pelecaniformes?
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Pelecaniform
European white pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in flight.
Traditionally, the order Pelecaniformes was defined as a group of aquatic birds characterized by webbing between all four toes. This conventional classification included six families:
- Anhingidae (anhingas or snakebirds)
- Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants)
- Phaethontidae (tropic birds)
- Fregatidae (frigate birds)
- Sulidae (gannets and boobies)
- Pelecanidae (pelicans)1
It is important to note that modern genetic analysis has led to significant taxonomic revisions. Many of these families are now frequently placed in the order Suliformes, while pelicans are often grouped with herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, the hammerhead, and the shoebill within the order Pelecaniformes.12