Diving petrel
| Diving petrel | |
|---|---|
| |
| Peruvian diving petrel (Pelecanoides garnotii) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Procellariiformes |
| Family: | Procellariidae |
| Genus: | Pelecanoides Lacépède , 1799
|
| Type species | |
| Procellaria urinatrix (common diving petrel) Gmelin, 1789
| |
| Species | |
|
Pelecanoides garnotii | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Haladroma Illiger, 1811 Onocralus Rafinesque, 1815 (nomen novum) Puffinuria R.-P. Lesson, 1828 Porthmornis Murphy & Harper, 1921 Pelagodyptes Murphy & Harpter, 1921 | |
The diving petrels form a genus, Pelecanoides, of seabirds in the family Procellariidae. There are four very similar species of diving petrels, distinguished only by small differences in the coloration of their plumage, habitat, and bill construction. They are only found in the southern hemisphere. The diving petrels were formerly placed in their own family, the Pelecanoididae.
Diving petrels are auk-like small petrels of the southern oceans. The resemblances with the auks are due to convergent evolution, since both families feed by pursuit diving, although some researchers have in the past suggested that the similarities are due to relatedness. Among the Procellariiformes the diving petrels are the family most adapted to life in the sea rather than flying over it, and are generally found closer inshore than other families in the order.
Taxonomy
The genus Pelecanoides was introduced in 1799 by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède for the common diving petrel.[1][2] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek pelekan meaning "pelican" and "-oidēs" meaning "resembling".[3]
The diving petrels were formerly placed in their own family, Pelecanoididae.[2] When genetic studies found that they were embedded within the family Procellariidae, the family Pelecanoididae were merged into Procellariidae.[4][5]
Extant Species
Four species are usually recognised:[6]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Pelecanoides garnotii | Peruvian diving-petrel | Coasts and islands of Peru and Chile. |
| Pelecanoides magellani | Magellanic diving-petrel | Channels and fjords of southern Chile and Tierra del Fuego. | |
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Pelecanoides georgicus | South Georgia diving-petrel | South Georgia and surrounding islets in the south Atlantic, and on the Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands and Heard Island and McDonald Islands in the southern Indian Ocean |
 |
Pelecanoides urinatrix | Common diving-petrel | Most widespread species; found on Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku, and numerous islands off the North Island; islands off southeast Australia and Tasmania, islands around the Australia-administered Macquarie Island, subantarctic islands of the Indian Ocean including the Prince Edward Islands, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, and Heard and McDonald Islands; in the Atlantic, it breeds at South Georgia, Tristan da Cunha Islands, Gough Island, Falkland Islands , and subspecies coppingeri assumed to breed in uncertain areas in Chile.
|
A fifth species, the
The
In 2007, a
Description
The diving petrels are small petrels that measure between 19–23 cm (7.5–9 in) and weigh 120–200 g (4.2–7.1 oz). They are highly uniform in appearance, and very difficult to distinguish when seen at sea. They are best distinguished by the size and shape of their short bills. The
Behaviour
Food and feeding
Diving petrels are
Breeding
These birds nest in colonies on islands. One white egg is laid in a burrow in turf or soft soil that is usually covered with vegetation, feathers, or small rocks. They are nocturnal at the breeding colonies. It has a long period of parental care (around 45 to 60 days) in the burrow, but once the chick fledges out to sea it is on its own.
Status and conservation
Of the four species, two, the
Diving petrels are among the world's most numerous birds, with common and South Georgia diving petrels numbering several million pairs each. The Peruvian and Whenua Hou diving petrels, on the other hand, are highly threatened by guano extraction, introduced species and climate change, and are considered endangered species.
References
- ^ Lacépède, Bernard Germain de (1799). "Tableau des sous-classes, divisions, sous-division, ordres et genres des oiseux". Discours d'ouverture et de clôture du cours d'histoire naturelle (in French). Paris: Plassan. p. 13. Page numbering starts at one for each of the three sections.
- ^ a b 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. 118.
- ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- S2CID 205246158.
- ^ Remsen, Van (October 2015). "Proposal (687): Merge Pelecanoididae into Procellariidae". South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Petrels, albatrosses". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ PMID 29949581.
- ^ Olson, Storrs L. (1985). "Section X.H.3. Pelecanoididae". In Farner, D. S.; King, J. R.; Parkes, Kenneth C. (eds.). Avian Biology. Vol. 8. New York: Academic Press. pp. 79–238.
- S2CID 85230857.