TAXONIMISINDE tartisma var = Taxonomy: Larus cachinnans Pallas, 1811, Caspian Sea.
In much of 20th century treated as a subspecies of L. argentatus, despite the perceptions of some authors; now widely accepted as a species, on basis of little or no hybridization with L. michahellis in area of contact (or near-contact) in Black Sea, plus clear suites of morphological characters and unique use of open-wing display during Long Call. Molecular data also show it to be a distinct species, closer to L. fuscus, suggesting that the three species may have diverged during the Pleistocene. Form ponticus of the Caspian Sea is a synonym of cachinnans. See also L. argentatus. Monotypic.