Atlantic Petrel

Atlantic Petrel

Taxobox
name = Atlantic Petrel
status = EN
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Procellariiformes
familia = Procellariidae
genus = "Pterodroma"
species = "P. incerta"
binomial = "Pterodroma incerta"
binomial_authority = (Schlegel, 1863)

The Atlantic Petrel ("Pterodroma incerta") is a gadfly petrel endemic to the South Atlantic Ocean. It breeds in enormous colonies on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island, and ranges at sea from Brazil to Namibia, with most records at sea being to the west of the breeding islands, and along the subtropical convergence.

The species feeds mostly on squid, which comprises 87% of its diet in some studies; it will also feed on lanternfishes (Myctophidae) as they ascend to the surface at night, as well as on crustaceans.

Although the species exists in large numbers, the world population being estimated at around 5 million birds, the species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. The species is restricted to just two breeding island and has declined historically due to exploitation for food, and is currently thought to be threatened by introduced House Mice, which attack chicks leading to low breeding success.

It was formerly classified as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN [BLI (2007)] . But new research has demonstrated the severe impact of predation by mice. Consequently, it is uplisted to Endangered status in 2008 [BLI (2008a,b)] .

Footnotes

References

*|year=2007|id=1868|title=Pterodroma incerta|downloaded=23 May 2008
* (2008a): [http://www.birdlife.org/action/science/species/global_species_programme/whats_new.html [2008 IUCN Redlist status changes] . Retrieved 2008-MAY-23.
* (2008b): [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3909&m=0 Atlantic Petrel Species Factsheet] . Retrieved 2008-MAY-23.
* (1991): Distribution of the Atlantic Petrel "Pterodroma incerta" at sea. "Marine Ornithology" 19(1): 49-60. [http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/19/MO_1991_05.pdf PDF fulltext]
* (1997) Diet of the Atlantic Petrel "Pterodroma incerta" during breeding season at South Atlantic Gough Island. "Marine Ornithology" 25(1+2): 13-16. [http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/25/25_4.pdf PDF fulltext]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Atlantic petrel — rudagalvis audrašauklis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Pterodroma incerta angl. Atlantic petrel vok. Schlegelsturmvogel, m rus. тайфунник Шлегеля, m pranc. pétrel de Schlegel, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – trumpasnapiai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • pétrel de Schlegel — rudagalvis audrašauklis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Pterodroma incerta angl. Atlantic petrel vok. Schlegelsturmvogel, m rus. тайфунник Шлегеля, m pranc. pétrel de Schlegel, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – trumpasnapiai …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Petrel — Pe trel, n. [F. p[ e]trel; a dim. of the name Peter, L. Petrus, Gr. ? a stone ( John i. 42); probably so called in allusion to St. Peter s walking on the sea. See {Petrify}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • petrel —   n. small dark seabird.    ♦ stormy or    ♦ storm petrel, such bird of the Atlantic and   Mediterranean; person fond of, or whose presence heralds, strife …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • Gadfly petrel — Gadfly Petrels Black capped Petrel Scientific classification Kingdom …   Wikipedia

  • Diving petrel — Petrel Pe trel, n. [F. p[ e]trel; a dim. of the name Peter, L. Petrus, Gr. ? a stone ( John i. 42); probably so called in allusion to St. Peter s walking on the sea. See {Petrify}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Fulmar petrel — Petrel Pe trel, n. [F. p[ e]trel; a dim. of the name Peter, L. Petrus, Gr. ? a stone ( John i. 42); probably so called in allusion to St. Peter s walking on the sea. See {Petrify}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Giant petrel — Petrel Pe trel, n. [F. p[ e]trel; a dim. of the name Peter, L. Petrus, Gr. ? a stone ( John i. 42); probably so called in allusion to St. Peter s walking on the sea. See {Petrify}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pintado petrel — Petrel Pe trel, n. [F. p[ e]trel; a dim. of the name Peter, L. Petrus, Gr. ? a stone ( John i. 42); probably so called in allusion to St. Peter s walking on the sea. See {Petrify}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pintado petrel — Petrel Pe trel, n. [F. p[ e]trel; a dim. of the name Peter, L. Petrus, Gr. ? a stone ( John i. 42); probably so called in allusion to St. Peter s walking on the sea. See {Petrify}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”