Diving petrel

Diving petrel
Peruvian diving petrel (Pelecanoides garnotii)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Procellariiformes
Family:	Procellariidae
Genus:	Pelecanoides Lacépède, 1799
Type species
Procellaria urinatrix (common diving petrel) Gmelin, 1789
Species
Pelecanoides garnotii Pelecanoides magellani Pelecanoides georgicus Pelecanoides urinatrix
Synonyms
Haladroma Illiger, 1811 Onocralus Rafinesque, 1815 (nomen novum) Puffinuria R.-P. Lesson, 1828 Porthmornis Murphy & Harper, 1921 Pelagodyptes Murphy & Harpter, 1921

The diving petrels form a genus, Pelecanoides, of seabirds in the family Procellariidae. There are four very similar species of diving petrels, distinguished only by small differences in the coloration of their plumage, habitat, and bill construction. They are only found in the southern hemisphere. The diving petrels were formerly placed in their own family, the Pelecanoididae.

Diving petrels are auk-like small petrels of the southern oceans. The resemblances with the auks are due to convergent evolution, since both families feed by pursuit diving, although some researchers have in the past suggested that the similarities are due to relatedness. Among the Procellariiformes the diving petrels are the family most adapted to life in the sea rather than flying over it, and are generally found closer inshore than other families in the order.