- Lava Gull
Taxobox
name = Lava Gull
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Charadriiformes
familia =Laridae
genus = "Leucophaeus "
species = "L. fulginosus"
binomial = "Leucophaeus fulginosus"
binomial_authority = (Gould, 1841)
synonyms = "Larus fulginosus"The Lava Gull ("Leucophaeus fuliginosus") is a large
gull . One of the rarest gulls in the world, the entire population lives on theGalapagos Islands and is estimated at 400 pairs.The adult
plumage , acquired in the third year of life, consists of a black head, black wings, and with a dark gray body and a paler gray belly. The bill and legs are black, and the inside of the mouth is scarlet. They have white upper and lower eyebrows, with red lids. Immature gulls are generally dark brown.Lava Gulls are solitary nesters, laying two olive-colored and well-camouflaged eggs that take 30 days to incubate. Young birds fledge at 60 days and are cared for by adults for a short period.
They are omnivores like most gulls, generally scavenging or stealing from nests, but will also catch
fish , smallcrustacean s, and newly-hatchedlizard s.The Lava Gull is categorized as "vulnerable" by the
IUCN Red List because it exists in small numbers and though the population is stable, it faces numerous threats.References
* [http://www.oceanwanderers.com/LavaGull.html Gulls of the World]
* [http://www.darwinfoundation.org/oilspill/priority.html Darwin Foundation]External links
* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3247&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]
* [http://www.redlist.org/search/details.php?species=11331 Red List entry on the Lava Gull]
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