Classification
Domain- Eukarya
The booby is part of the domain
Eukarya since this organism has all the defining features of
a eukaryotic organism, such as cells with a membrane-bound
nucleus.
Kingdom- Animalia
Blue-footed
Boobies fit into the kingdom Animalia since they are
multicellular and heterotrophic (getting their nutrients
from other organisms as food).
Phylum- Chordata
Blue-footed
Boobies have a spine with a dorsal nerve chord and a post-anal
tail. During development they had pharyngeal slits which
disappear before birth.
Class- Aves
The class Aves consists of birds. Blue-footed Boobies are warm blooded
birds that have a vertebrae, two legs and lay eggs, making
them part of the class Aves.
In general, there are a number
of features unique to Aves. Hollow bone structures
relate to the function of flying. The lighter the body
frame, the less weight to carry in the air. The less weight
to fly with, the easier it is to fly.
Birds also have a unique respiratory system. It is smaller
in size but is highly efficient. Birds have special air sacs
off the lungs that allow the system to exchange fresh oxygen
enriched air with waste gas with everything moving in one
direction. Birds are able to get rid of all the used air in
their lungs, unlike many mammals. The way the air sacs are
set up it takes two full inhale-exhale cycles for a batch of
air to travel through the system.
Order- Pelecaniformes, though some controversy claims Ciconiidae.
vs.
Blue-footed boobies fit well into the
order Pelecaniformes because they are monogamous water birds
and have webbed feet with four toes. They are also hatched naked.
There is some debate that they belong in the order Ciconiidae.
This order includes the storks. Two main features of this
group are possessing a long neck and long legs. Personally,
I think the Blue-footed Booby is not
elongated enough to be classified in Ciconiidae and is
better classified under Pelecaniformes.
Family- Sulidae
The family Sulidae consists of
Boobies and Gannets. Blue-footed boobies are part of the
family Sulidae because they live in coastal areas and catch
fish by plunge-diving.
Genus- Sula
The genus
sula consists entirely of Boobies.
Species- Sula nebouxii
Sula
nebouxii is the binomial
scientific name for the Blue-footed Booby.
Phylogeny
The Blue-footed Booby is most closely related to the Peruvian Booby based on genetic DNA sequences.
Learn more about the Blue-footed Booby and where it lives by clicking here.
