Puffinus be divided in what has been called the "Puffinus" and the "Neonectris" group after notable species; the latter has been separated as a distinct genus named "Ardenna". The former is taxonomically confusing, with species having been split and remerged in the last years. The genus "Puffinus" contains the following species: Several fossil species which became extinct long ago are also known. The proportion of larger ("Neonectris") species apparently was larger before the Pliocene, i.e. before marine mammals diversified: ""Puffinus" arvernensis" (Early Miocene of France) is now considered a primitive albatross of the fossil genus "Plotornis". Puffinus Puffinus is a genus
Arripis commensal relationship between the Australian salmon and the birds is noted to be especially strong in such species as the white-fronted tern, ("Sterna striata"), fluttering shearwater, ("Puffinus gavia"), and Buller's shearwater, ("Puffinus bulleri"). The baitfish made available by the Australian salmon's herding behaviour may also be important to the reproductive success of winter-nesting birds; the decline of the Australians salmon stocks has evoked concern for these bird species, some of which – such as the fairy tern, ("Sterna nereis") – are endangered Aside from seabirds, the Australian salmon are also important in the diets of cetaceans, such as killer whales