Spectacled petrel

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Spectacled petrel
Spectacled Petrel, Procellaria conspicillata Cropped.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Procellariidae
Genus: Procellaria
Species:
P. conspicillata
Binomial name
Procellaria conspicillata
Gould, 1844
Procellaria conspicillata map.svg
Synonyms

Procellaria aequinoctialis conspicillata

The spectacled petrel (Procellaria conspicillata) 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 aequinoctialis).

Taxonomy

The spectacled petrel was formally described in 1844 by the English ornithologist John Gould and given the binomial name Procellaria conspicillata. [2] The genus Procellaria had been introduced in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae . [3] The genus name is from the Latin procella meaning "storm" or "gale". The specific epithet conspicillata is from Latin conspicillum meaning "place to look from" and hence "spectacled". [4] The word petrel is derived from St. Peter and the story of his walking on water. This is in reference to the petrel's habit of appearing to run on the water to take off. [5] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised. [6]

The genus Procellaria is a member of the family Procellariidae, and the order Procellariiformes. As a member of the Procellariiformes, they share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns. Although the nostrils on the petrel are on top of the upper bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between seven and nine horny plates. They produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus. This can be sprayed out of their mouths as a defence against predators and as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights. [7] Finally, they also have a salt gland that is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies, due to the high amount of ocean water that they imbibe. It excretes a high saline solution from their nose. [8]

The spectacled petrel was formerly often considered as a subspecies of the white-chinned petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis). [9] In 1998 the South African ornithologist Peter G. Ryan argued that the spectacled petrel should be considered as a separate species as the two taxa not only differed in their plumage but also in their vocalization. The spectacled petrel is slightly smaller, breeds earlier and the breeding site on Inaccessible Island is nearly 10 degrees further north than any breeding site of the white-chinned petrel. [10] Following the publication of this article, the spectacled petrel had been treated as a separate species. [6] [11] Further justification for promoting the spectacled petrel to species status was provided by a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2009 that found significant differences in the DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. [12]

Description

The spectacled petrel is a large, approximately 55 cm (22 in) in length, predominately black petrel. It does have white bands around its eyes, and its bill is yellow. Their lifespan averages 26.4 years. [13]

Distribution and habitat

The spectacled petrel is pelagic and forages over a broad band of the south Atlantic Ocean between 30° and 50° south. Its range extends from southern Brazil in the west across to southern Africa in the east. It only breeds on Inaccessible Island which is part of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago in the South Atlantic. [14] The spectacled petrel may have also once bred on Amsterdam Island in the south Indian Ocean. [10]

Behavior

Feeding

The spectacled petrel eats cephalopods, fish, and crustaceans. [13]

Breeding

Spectacled petrels breed in burrows on the western plateau of Inaccessible Island. The birds dig the burrows in the banks of streams and in boggy areas. The clutch is a single white egg with an average size of 81 mm × 55 mm (3.2 in × 2.2 in) and a weight of 130 g (4.6 oz). [10]

Conservation

The species was classified as critically endangered by the IUCN in 2000. [1] A subsequent study gave cautious hope for a continuing recovery of the population from an all-time low of merely some dozens of pairs in the 1930s. [14] Indeed, it appears as if the species' numbers have been underestimated in more recent years as an accurate census is difficult due to the rugged terrain of its island home. Consequently, the conservation status of this species was downgraded to vulnerable in the 2007 IUCN Red List. [13] The 2009 assessment maintained their status at vulnerable. [13] This petrel has an occurrence range of 9,670,000 km2 (3,730,000 sq mi) and a population estimated at between 31,000 and 45,000. Their population is trending up at between 1% and 9% over 60 years, and possibly 45% over the last five years. [13]

The spectacled petrel is threatened by interactions with longline fisheries which kills hundreds of birds every year as they become entangled in the fishing lines and drown. [13]

The spectacled petrel is listed on CMS Appendix II and ACAP Annex 1. A census was conducted in 2004, and Inaccessible Island is a World Heritage Site, with restricted access. To help the species, other conservation measures have been proposed. Conducting surveys of the breeding population as an ongoing process. Pushing for adoption of the best-practice mitigation measures in fisheries within this bird's range, utilizing organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, and International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Restricting access to prevent colonization of introduced species. Finally, looking for other breeding locations. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Procellariidae</span> Family of seabirds which includes petrels, shearweters and prions

The family Procellariidae is a group of seabirds that comprises the fulmarine petrels, the gadfly petrels, the diving petrels, the prions, and the shearwaters. This family is part of the bird order Procellariiformes, which also includes the albatrosses and the storm petrels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels</span> 2001 international agreement

The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) is a legally binding international agreement signed in 2001 and entered into force on 1 February 2004 when South Africa ratified as the fifth Party to the Agreement.

<i>Procellaria</i> Genus of birds

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian yellow-nosed albatross</span> Member of the albatross family, Diomedeidae

The Indian yellow-nosed albatross is a member of the albatross family, and is the smallest of the mollymawks. In 2004, BirdLife International split this species from the Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross; however Clements has not split it yet, and the SACC has not either, but recognises the need for a proposal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross</span> Large seabird from the south Atlantic

The Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross is a large seabird in the albatross family Diomedeidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue petrel</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape petrel</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tristan albatross</span> Large seabird from the family Diomedeidae

The Tristan albatross is a large seabird from the albatross family. One of the great albatrosses of the genus Diomedea, it was only widely recognised as a full species in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snow petrel</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common diving petrel</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-chinned petrel</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerguelen petrel</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broad-billed prion</span> Species of bird

The broad-billed prion is a small pelagic seabird in the shearwater and petrel family, Procellariidae. It is the largest prion, with grey upperparts plumage, and white underparts. The sexes are alike. It ranges from the southeast Atlantic to New Zealand mainly near the Antarctic Convergence. In the south Atlantic it breeds on Tristan da Cunha and Gough Island; in the south Pacific it breeds on islands off the south coast of South Island, New Zealand and on the Chatham Islands. It has many other names that have been used such as blue-billed dove-petrel, broad-billed dove-petrel, long-billed prion, common prion, icebird, and whalebird.

The Polynesian storm petrel 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. However, subspecies are not generally accepted today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey petrel</span> Species of bird

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.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2018). "Procellaria conspicillata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T22728437A132659002. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22728437A132659002.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Gould, John (1844). "On the family Procellaridae with descriptions of ten new species". The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 13 (1): 360–368 [362].
  3. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 131.
  4. ↑ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p.  117, 317. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  5. ↑ Gotch, A. T. (1995)
  6. 1 2 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Petrels, albatrosses". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  7. ↑ Double, M. C. (2003)
  8. ↑ Ehrlich, Paul R. (1988)
  9. ↑ Mayr, Ernst; Cottrell, G. William, eds. (1979). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 86.
  10. 1 2 3 Ryan, Peter G. (1998). "The taxonomic and conservation status of the Spectacled Petrel Procellaria conspicillata". Bird Conservation International. 8 (3): 223–235. doi: 10.1017/S0959270900001891 .
  11. ↑ Dickinson, E.C.; Remsen, J.V. Jr., eds. (2013). The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Non-passerines (4th ed.). Eastbourne, UK: Aves Press. p. 179. ISBN   978-0-9568611-0-8.
  12. ↑ Techow, N.M.S.M.; Ryan, P.G.; O’Ryan, C. (2009). "Phylogeography and taxonomy of White-chinned and Spectacled Petrels". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 52 (1): 25–33. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.04.004.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 BirdLife International (2009)
  14. 1 2 Ryan, P.G.; Dorse, C.; Hilton, G.M. (2006). "The conservation status of the spectacled petrel Procellaria conspicillata". Biological Conservation. 131 (4): 575–583. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2006.03.004.

Sources

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