Systematics and Evolution
All living species are placed in the genus Gavia. Phylogenetically, the 5 living species can be arranged as follows:
Basal lineage
- Red-throated Loon or Red-throated Diver, Gavia stellata
Black-throated lineage
- Black-throated Loon, Arctic Loon, or Black-throated Diver, Gavia arctica
- Pacific Loon or Pacific Diver, Gavia pacifica (formerly in G. arctica)
Black-headed lineage
- Great Northern Loon, Common Loon, or Great Northern Diver, Gavia immer
- Yellow-billed Loon or White-billed Diver, Gavia adamsii
Read more about this topic: Loon
Famous quotes containing the word evolution:
“The more specific idea of evolution now reached is—a change from an indefinite, incoherent homogeneity to a definite, coherent heterogeneity, accompanying the dissipation of motion and integration of matter.”
—Herbert Spencer (1820–1903)