Phylum Chordata Bateson, 1885 - chordates
   Class Aves Linnaeus, 1758 - birds see Subclass Aves Linnaeus, 1758
     Subclass Neornithes Gadow, 1893 see Clade Neornithes Gadow, 1893
       Superorder Neognathae Pycraft, 1900 see Cohort Neognathae Pycraft, 1900
         Order Charadriiformes Huxley, 1867 - shorebirds, gulls, auks
           Suborder Lari Sharpe, 1891 - gulls and allies
             Family Sternidae Bonaparte, 1838 see Subfamily Sterninae Bonaparte, 1838
               1 Genus Chlidonias Rafinesque, 1822
               2 Genus Phaetusa Wagler, 1832
               3 Genus Gelochelidon Brehm, 1830, nom. nud. see Genus Sterna Linnaeus, 1758
               4 Genus Sterna Linnaeus, 1758
               5 Genus Larosterna Blyth, 1852
               6 Genus Procelsterna Lafresnaye, 1842
               7 Genus Anous Stephens, 1826
               8 Genus Gygis Wagler, 1832