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
Heinroth's shearwater behaviour of close relatives). There is very little information about the species and it is uncertain if it is threatened or in decline. BirdLife International (2006) Species factsheet: Puffinus heinrothi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/7/2006 Heinroth's shearwater Heinroth's shearwater ("Puffinus heinrothi") is a poorly known seabird in the family Procellariidae. Probably a close relative of the little shearwater or Audubon's shearwater (with which it is sometimes considered conspecific), it is distinguished by a long and slender bill and a brown-washed underside. This species is restricted to the seas around the Bismarck Archipelago and northern Solomon Islands. The breeding sites of