Polynesian storm petrel | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Procellariiformes |
Family: | Oceanitidae |
Genus: | Nesofregetta Mathews, 1912 |
Species: | N. fuliginosa |
Binomial name | |
Nesofregetta fuliginosa (Gmelin, JF, 1789) | |
Synonyms [2] | |
Fregetta ampitrite Jardin, 1859 Contents |
The Polynesian storm petrel (Nesofregetta fuliginosa) is a species of seabird in the family Oceanitidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Nesofregetta. This species is markedly polymorphic, consisting of several subspecies. At one time the light-colored variety were even considered a species on their own (white-throated storm-petrel). However, subspecies are not generally accepted today. [3]
Polynesian Storm-petrels can weigh anywhere from 56-86g and can be as tall as 10.2 inches. They are identifiable by their black bills, broad, round wings, and black feet. Some of the Polynesian Storm-petrels vary in regards to the white on their stomach, but can be identifiable through that as well. [4] They can also be identified through their zig-zag flight patterns and their forked tail. [5] Polynesian Storm-petrels nest in burrows they create on nesting islands. The burrows are typically around vegetation or in rock crevices. [6] The Polynesian Storm-petrel's natural habitats are open seas, rocky shores, and sandy shores.
Polynesian Storm-petrels will generally breed on coral or volcanic islands in colonies. Most members of the colony arrive at night after foraging throughout the day. They mainly stay on their island, which points towards a sedentary lifestyle. [7]
Depending on the distance from the equator, Polynesian Storm-petrels might lay eggs seasonally or non-seasonally. The closer they are to the equator, the less likely they are to lay eggs seasonally. Polynesian Storm-petrels lay single eggs and it takes about 50 days to hatch. The fledging age is about 60 days after hatching. Until they fledge, young Polynesian Storm-petrels are fed and protected by both parents. [7]
Generally, Polynesian Storm-petrels have a carnivorous diet. Their diet mainly consists of cephalopods, fish, and crustaceans. They mainly hunt for food when they are in flight by diving into the water. [8]
Polynesian Storm-petrels can be found in Chile, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, American Samoa, Fiji, and Samoa.
The Polynesian storm petrel was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae . He placed it with the other petrels in the genus Procellaria and coined the binomial name Procellaria fuliginosa. [9] Gmelin based his description on the "sooty petrel" that had been described in 1785 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his book A General Synopsis of Birds. [10] The Polynesian storm petrel is now the only species placed in the genus Nesofregetta that was introduced in 1912 by the Australian born ornithologist Gregory Mathews. [11] [12] The name combines the Ancient Greek nēsos meaning "island" and Fregetta , a genus name that was introduced by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1855 for the storm petrels. The specific epithet fuliginosa is from Late Latin fuliginosus meaning "sooty". [13] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised. [12]
The main threats to Polynesian Storm-petrels include introduced species like rats and cats. Loss of egg and chick population by the house mouse is also a threat, along with loss of vegetation due to agriculture and rabbits [14]
Rising sea levels as a result of global climate change has affected Polynesian Storm-petrel's habitat. Vegetation and grass can get washed out due to overly aggressive storms, which can destroy critical breeding areas. Climate change also results in heavier rainfall, which then results in increased ground water salinity. [15]
Some of the conservation efforts for the Polynesian Storm-petrel include monitoring breeding populations and invasive species in specific areas, restoration of former breeding islands, and using translocations and social attraction to restore populations. [15]
A few of the efforts from the past, starting from 1990 includes predator removal, biosecurity plans, and compliance and education. [15]
The sooty shearwater, or tītī, or muttonbird, is a medium-large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. In New Zealand, it is also known by its Māori name tītī, and as muttonbird, like its relatives the wedge-tailed shearwater and the Australian short-tailed shearwater.
The white-faced storm petrel, also known as white-faced petrel is a small seabird of the austral storm petrel family Oceanitidae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Pelagodroma.
The wedge-tailed shearwater is a medium-large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. It is one of the shearwater species that is sometimes referred to as a muttonbird, like the sooty shearwater of New Zealand and the short-tailed shearwater of Australia. It is found throughout the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, roughly between latitudes 35°N and 35°S. It breeds on the islands off Japan, on the Islas Revillagigedo, the Hawaiian Islands, the Seychelles, the Northern Mariana Islands, and off Eastern and Western Australia.
The Antarctic petrel is a boldly marked dark brown and white petrel, found in Antarctica, most commonly in the Ross and Weddell Seas. They eat Antarctic krill, fish, and small squid. They feed while swimming but can dive from both the surface and the air.
The whiskered auklet is a small seabird of the auk family. It has a more restricted range than other members of its genus, Aethia, living only around the Aleutian Islands and on some islands off Siberia, and breeding on these islands. It is one of the smallest alcids, only the closely related least auklet being smaller. Its name is derived from the long white feathers on its face that are part of its breeding plumage.
The southern giant petrel, also known as the Antarctic giant petrel, giant fulmar, stinker, and stinkpot, is a large seabird of the southern oceans. Its distribution overlaps broadly with the similar northern giant petrel, though it overall is centered slightly further south. Adults of the two species can be distinguished by the colour of their bill-tip: greenish in the southern and reddish in the northern.
The spectacled petrel is a rare seabird that nests only on the high western plateau of Inaccessible Island in the South Atlantic Tristan da Cunha group. It is one of the largest petrels that nests in burrows. This species was formerly considered to be a subspecies of the white-chinned petrel.
Procellaria is a genus of Southern Ocean long-winged seabirds related to prions, and within the order Procellariiformes. The black petrel ranges in the Pacific Ocean, and as far north as Central America. The spectacled petrel is confined to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Westland petrel to the Pacific Ocean. The white-chinned and grey petrel range throughout the higher latitudes of the Southern Ocean.
The Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross is a large seabird in the albatross family Diomedeidae.
The blue petrel is a small seabird in the shearwater and petrel family, Procellariidae. This small petrel is the only member of the genus Halobaena, but is closely allied to the prions. It is distributed across the Southern Ocean but breeds at a few island sites, all close to the Antarctic Convergence zone.
The Cape petrel, also called the Cape pigeon, pintado petrel, or Cape fulmar, is a common seabird of the Southern Ocean from the family Procellariidae. It is the only member of the genus Daption, and is allied to the fulmarine petrels, and the giant petrels. They are extremely common seabirds with an estimated population of around 2 million.
The snow petrel is the only member of the genus Pagodroma. It is one of only three birds that have been seen at the Geographic South Pole, along with the Antarctic petrel and the south polar skua, which has the most southerly breeding sites of any bird, inland in Antarctica.
The common diving petrel , also known as the smaller diving petrel or simply the diving petrel, is a diving petrel, one of four very similar auk-like small petrels of the southern oceans. It is native to South Atlantic islands and islands of the subantarctic southern Indian Ocean, islands and islets off New Zealand and south-eastern Australian islands.
The white-chinned petrel also known as the Cape hen and shoemaker, is a large shearwater in the family Procellariidae. It ranges around the Southern Ocean as far north as southern Australia, Peru and Namibia, and breeds colonially on scattered islands. The white-chinned petrel was formerly considered to be conspecific with the spectacled petrel.
The Kerguelen petrel is a small slate-grey seabird in the family Procellariidae. It is the only species placed in the genus Aphrodroma. It is a pelagic, circumpolar seabird of the Southern Ocean. It breeds on islands in the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
The Phoenix petrel is a medium-sized tropical seabird, measuring up to 35 cm (1.15 ft) long, with a wingspan of 83 cm (2.72 ft). It has a dark brown upperparts plumage, white below and whitish throat. The sexes are similar.
The fork-tailed storm petrel is a small seabird of the storm petrel family Hydrobatidae. It is the second-most abundant and widespread storm petrel and is the only bird in its family that is bluish-grey in colour.
The Antarctic prion also known as the dove prion, or totorore in Māori, is the largest of the prions, a genus of small petrels of the Southern Ocean.
The black petrel, also called Parkinson's petrel, is a medium-sized, black-plumaged petrel, the smallest of the Procellaria. The species is an endemic breeder of New Zealand, breeding only on Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier Island, off the North Island. At sea it disperses as far as Australia and Ecuador.
The grey petrel, also called the brown petrel, pediunker or grey shearwater is a species of seabird in the Procellariidae, or petrel family. It is pelagic and occurs in the open seas of the Southern Hemisphere, mainly between 32°S and 58°S.