| Species name | Common name | Distribution | Max. Length (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thalasseus bengalensis Lesson, 1831 |
Lesser crested tern | Indo-West Pacific, Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean | 43 |
| Thalasseus elegans Gambel, 1849 |
Elegant tern | Eastern Pacific | 43 |
| Thalasseus eurygnatha Saunders, 1876 |
Cayenne tern | Western Atlantic | 43 |
| Thalasseus maximus Boddaert, 1783 |
Royal tern | Atlantic Ocean, Eastern Pacific and Western Indian Ocean | 53 |