The genus Pelecanus
was formally described in 1758 by Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his
Systema Naturae. He described the peculiarities of the accounting single
peak, the nose, the right face and bald completely dependent webbed
feet. The first definition includes frigates and pelicans, cormorants
and sulids. The name comes from the ancient Greek word pelican
(πελεκάν), which comes from the word pelekys (πελεκυς) meaning "ax".
In
ancient times, the word for both the pelican and woodpeckerPelicans
Pelecaniformes give his name to have been applied, an order that has had
a varied taxonomic history. Molecular evidence that the Hamerkop
Shoebill and form a sister group of pelicans, although there are doubts
about the exact relationship between the three lines. The supposed Miocene pelican Liptornis of Patagonia is a nomen
dubium (of dubious validity), and fragments of sufficient evidence to
support a valid description is based.
The eight survivors pelican
species are divided into two groups, one with four nests of land with
mostly white adult plumage (Australian American White Pelicans,
Dalmatian, Great White, y) and gray or brown plumage four species
divide, two favorite nesting trees (pink-backed pelicans, Spot-billed
and brown), or on the sea rocks (Peru Pelican).
So Leptopelicanus (if valid) would be among the American white
pelican.
Pelicans mainly bright plumage, exceptions are brown pelicans and
Peruvian. Calculations bag and skin bare face of all types of light
before the breeding season begins. The pocket of the groove of the
subspecies of California brown pelican is bright red, yellow and faded
after spawning, and the bag throat Peruvian Pelican is blue. The
American White Pelican is a button on the first floor of his bill, which
is paid once the females laid eggs. The immature plumage pelican is
darker than adults.
Modern pelicans are found on all continents except Antarctica. Living mainly in warmer regions, but the breeding range in latitude 45 ° south (Australian pelicans Tasmania) and 60 ° North (American White Pelicans in Western Canada) extend. Birds of inland and coastal waters, are absent in the polar regions, the deep ocean, oceanic islands (except for the Galapagos Islands), and the interior of South America and the east coast of South America mouth of the Amazon to the south.