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
Buller's shearwater blackish also; the two black areas do not meet at the hand however; the area between them is a rather light grey, under bright light it may appear almost white. With the bird facing upwards, the pattern gives the impression of a broken black "M", with light grey interspersing areas. The underside is bright white; on the head the upperside's grey extends town to eye height and the white cheeks may shine up conspicuously, as in the smaller shearwaters of "Puffinus sensu stricto". The rectrices are blackish and the tail is wedge-shaped; bill and iris are dark. Fledged juveniles already