Henderson Petrel

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Henderson Petrel
Conservation status
Endangered
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Procellariiformes Family: Procellariidae Genus: Pterodroma Species: P. atrata
Binomial name
Pterodroma atrata Mathews, 1912

The Henderson Petrel (Pterodroma atrata) is a species of seabird in the Procellariidae family. It is found in the Pitcairn Islands, primarily Henderson. It is closely related to P. arminjoniana and P. heraldica. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and open seas.

During Captain Cook's voyages in the eighteenth century, Daniel Solander wrote in his manuscript of the procuring of a petrel which he named Procellaria atrata. It was not until 1912, when Gregory Mathews (Birds of Australia, volume 2) published Solander's account, and created this name (later amended as Pterodroma atrata for systematic purposes). However, Mathews did not actually designate a new type, as what Solander had described was considered to be merely hypothetical.

[edit] Source

• BirdLife International 2006. Pterodroma atrata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 24 July 2007.