The Pelecanidae is a family of
pelecaniform birds within the
Pelecani that contains three genera: the extinct ''
Eopelecanus'' and ''
Miopelecanus'' and the extant ''
Pelecanus''.
Pelecanids have existed since the late
Eocene
The Eocene ( ) is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (Ma). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes ...
(
Priabonian
The Priabonian is, in the ICS's geologic timescale, the latest age or the upper stage of the Eocene Epoch or Series. It spans the time between . The Priabonian is preceded by the Bartonian and is followed by the Rupelian, the lowest stage ...
)
and they still exist today.
References
*
*
Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque
Bird families
{{pelecaniformes-stub