Atlantic Petrel
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| Pterodroma incerta (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 myctophid fish and 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 and leads to low breeding success.
[edit] References
- Enticott, JW (1991) "Distribution of the Atlantic petrel Pterodroma incerta at sea" Marine Ornithology 19(1):49-60
- Klages, NTW & Cooper, J (1997) "Diet of the Atlantic petrel Pterodroma incerta during breeding season at South Atlantic Gough Island" Marine Ornithology 25: 13-16 [1]
- BirdLife International (2006) Species factsheet: Pterodroma incerta. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 3/8/2006
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