Oceanitinae is one of two subfamilies of storm-petrels. Because the distribution of the subfamily is predominantly in the southern hemisphere they are sometimes known as the southern storm-petrels. The subfamily contains five genera in which there are eight species. They were the second group of storm-petrels to break off from the ancestral petrel stock, and for this reason some authors have suggested that they should constitute a separate family from the Hydrobatinae storm-petrels.

Species

• Subfamily Oceanitinae
• Wilson's Storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
• New Zealand Storm-petrel, Oceanites maorianus
• White-vented Storm-petrel, Oceanites gracilis
• Grey-backed Storm-petrel, Garrodia nereis
• White-faced Storm-petrel, Pelagodroma marina
• Black-bellied Storm-petrel or Gould's Storm-Petrel, Fregetta tropica
• White-bellied Storm-petrel, Fregetta grallaria
• Polynesian Storm-petrel, Nesofregetta fuliginosa

References