Gough Island Moorhen

Gough Island Moorhen

Taxobox
name = Gough Island Moorhen
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Gruiformes
familia = Rallidae
genus = "Gallinula"
species = "G. comeri"
binomial = "Gallinula comeri"
binomial_authority = (Allen, 1892)

The Gough Island Moorhen, "Gallinula comeri", is a medium-sized, almost flightless bird that is similar to the Common Moorhen ("Gallinula chloropus"), but is smaller, stockier, and has shorter wings. The bird has a distinctive bill that is reddish with a yellow tip. Its first account was written by the polar explorer George Comer in 1888. [cite book |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Sb1IJYzXZhUC&pg=RA1-PA60&lpg=RA1-PA60&dq=%22george+Comer%22+antartica&source=web&ots=PyWGg3gGng&sig=HepQRZ8dF0IG_vZnCM-UBnBxiEw&hl=en |title=Flightless birds |author=Roots, Clive |location=Westport, Conn. |publisher=Greenwood Press |date=2006 |pages=60 |isbn=0313335451 |accessdate=2008-03-31] This bird is found only on two remote islands in the South Atlantic. It was originally endemic to Gough Island, but was introduced to Tristan da Cunha in 1956. On Gough Island, it appears that the bird's future is secure with the island being a nature reserve and a World Heritage Site. In the mid 1990s, it was estimated that 2500 breeding pairs existed on Gough Island. Gough Island is considered the least disturbed major cool-temperate island ecosystem in the South Atlantic Ocean and hosts one of the most important sea-bird colonies in the world, containing 54 bird species, 22 breeding species, and four threatened species. However, on Tristan da Cunha, it is not classified as a native species and therefore is not protected.

References

External links

* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=2935&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet.]
*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Gallinula_comeri/ images and movies of the Gough Island Moorhen ("Gallinula comeri")]
* [http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/789/1/B004a06.pdf "Description of a new gallinule, from Gough Island"] - J.A. Allen, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, Vol.4, Art.6, 1892. p. 57-58


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