Glossy Black Cockatoo

Taxobox | name = Glossy Black Cockatoo
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1


caption = C. l. halmaturinus on Kangaroo Island
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Psittaciformes
familia = Cacatuidae
subfamilia = Calyptorhynchinae
genus = "Calyptorhynchus"
subgenus = "Calyptorhynchus"
species = "C. lathami "
binomial = "Calyptorhynchus lathami"
binomial_authority = Temminck, 1807
range_

range_map_caption = Glossy Black Cockatoo range (in red)
subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
subdivision = "C. (C.) l. lathami"
"C. (C.) l. erebus"
"C. (C.) l. halmaturinus"

The Glossy Black Cockatoo ("Calyptorhynchus lathami"), also known as the Casuarina Black Cockatoo after one of their preferred food items, is the smallest member of the subfamily Calyptorhynchinae found in Australia. Adult Glossy Black Cockatoos may reach 50 cm (20 in) in length and sexually dimorphic. Males are completely black in colour, excepting their prominent red tail bands; the females are dark brownish with some yellow spotting. Three subspecies are recognised.

Taxonomy

The Glossy Black Cockatoo was first described by Dutch naturalist Coenraad Jacob Temminck in 1807. The scientific name honours the English ornithologist John Latham.

The Glossy Black Cockatoo's closest relative is the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo; the two species form the subgenus "Calyptorhynchus" within the genus of the same name.Forshaw, p. 89] They are distinguished from the other Black Cockatoos of the subgenus "Zanda" by their significant sexual dimorphism and calls of the juveniles; one a squeaking begging call, the other a vocalization when swallowing food.cite journal |last=Courtney |first=J |year=1996 |title=The juvenile food-begging calls, food-swallowing vocalisation and begging postures in Australian Cockatoos |journal=Australian Bird Watcher |volume=16 |pages=236–49 |id= |url= |accessdate= |quote= ]

ubspecies

The three subspecies were proposed by Schodde "et al." in 1993,Schodde R, Mason IJ & Wood JT. (1993). Geographical differentiation in the Glossy Black Cockatoo "Calytorhynchus lathami" (Temminck), and its history. "Emu" 93: 156-166] though Forshaw has reservations due to their extremely minimal differences. [Forshaw, Joseph M. & Cooper, William T. (2002): "Australian Parrots" (3rd ed). Press, Willoughby, Australia. ISBN 0-9581212-0-6]

*"C. l. lathami": "(Rare)" The eastern subspecies found between southeastern Queensland and Mallacoota in Victoria, with isolated pockets in Eungella in central Queensland and the Riverina and Pilliga forest. [Blakers M, Davies SJJF, Reilly PN (1984) "The Atlas of Australian Birds." RAOU and Melbourne University press, Melbourne.] It is associated with casuarina woodland.
*"C. l. erebus" Occurs in central Queensland.
*"C. l. halmaturinus": "(Endangered)" The Kangaroo Island) subspecies has been listed by the Australian Government as endangered. Restricted to the northern and western parts of the island, the population may be as low as 100 individuals. It depends on the Drooping she-oak ("Allocasuarina verticillata") and the Sugar Gum ("Eucalyptus cladocalyx") [Joseph L (1982) The Glossy Black Cockatoo on Kangaroo Island "Emu" 82 46-49]

Description

Like the related Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, this species is and sexually dimorphic. The male Glossy Black Cockatoo is predominantly black with striking caudal red patches. The female is a duller dark brown, with flecks of yellow in the tail and collar. An adult will grow to be about 46-50 cm (18-20 in) in length. The birds are often found in open forest and woodlands, and usually feed on seeds of the she-oak ("Casuarina" spp.)

Conservation Status

Australia

Glossy Black-cockatoo are not listed as threatened on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

tate of Victoria, Australia

* The eastern subspecies of the Glossy Black-cockatoo ("C. l. lathami") is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). [ [http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/EADA0F1874AF9CF24A2567C1001020A388BBA5581CF9D859CA256BB300271BDB Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria] ] Under this Act, an "Action Statement" for the recovery and future management of this species has not been prepared. [ [http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/617768308BCB666E4A25684E00192281E7A24BB36FF60A144A256DEA00244294 Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria] ]

* On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, the subspecies "C. l. lathami" is listed as vulnerable.cite book | author = Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment | title = Advisory List of Threatened VertebrateFauna in Victoria - 2007 | publisher = Department of Sustainability and Environment | date = 2007 | location = East Melbourne, Victoria | pages = 15 | url = | id = ISBN 978-1-74208-039-0 ]

References

* Database entry includes a lengthy justification of why this species is of least concern

Cited texts

*cite book |last=Forshaw |first=Joseph M| coauthors= William T. Cooper|authorlink = Joseph Forshaw|title=Australian Parrots |year=2002| edition=3rd ed. |publisher=Alexander Editions |location=Robina |isbn=0-9581212-0-6

* Flegg, Jim. "Birds of Australia: Photographic Field Guide" Sydney: Reed New Holland, 2002. (ISBN 1-876334-78-9)

* Garnett, S. (1993) "Threatened and Extinct Birds Of Australia". RAOU. National Library, Canberra. ISSN 0812-8014

External links

* [http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/ Threatened species and ecological communities]