 The fossil record shows that the pelican lineage has existed for at least 30 million years ; the oldest known pelican fossil was found in Early Oligocene deposits at the <unk> in southeastern France and is remarkably similar to modern forms . Its beak is almost complete and is morphologically identical to that of present @-@ day pelicans , showing that this advanced feeding apparatus was already in existence at the time . An Early Miocene fossil has been named Miopelecanus gracilis on the basis of certain features originally considered unique but later thought to lie within the range of inter @-@ specific variation in Pelecanus . The Late Eocene <unk> may be a <unk> or <unk> – or a similar aquatic bird such as a pseudotooth ( Pelagornithidae ) . The supposed Miocene pelican <unk> from Patagonia is a nomen dubium ( of doubtful validity ) , being based on fragments providing insufficient evidence to support a valid description . 
