Southern royal albatross

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Southern royal albatross
East of Tasmania
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Procellariiformes
Family: Diomedeidae
Genus: Diomedea
Species:
D. epomophora
Binomial name
Diomedea epomophora
Lesson, 1825[2]

The southern royal albatross or toroa, (Diomedea epomophora) is a large

wandering albatross. Recent studies indicate that the southern royal albatross may, on average, be somewhat larger than the wandering albatross in mass and have a similar wingspan,[3] although other sources indicate roughly similar size for the two species and the wandering species may have a larger average (and maximum) wingspan in some colonies.[4]

Taxonomy

In flight

Albatrosses belong to family

triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus. This is used against predators as well as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights.[5]

This species was once considered

American Ornithologists' Union has recognized the need for a proposal.[11]

Etymology

In flight
In flight

Diomedea refers to Diomedes, a figure from Greek mythology whose companions turned to birds.[12]

Description

The southern royal albatross has a length of 112 to 123 cm (44–48 in)

wandering albatross, with the southern royal having a clean black and white appearance, lacking the peach neck spot often found on the wandering albatross. Most wandering albatrosses have dark feathers in the tail and crown and the white in this species expands from the middle of the wing, in larger blotches. The bill is also slightly paler, as well as the dark cutting edge along the middle. The average lifespan is 58 years.[17]

Range

Breeding Population and Trends[13]
Location Population Date Trend
Campbell Islands 8,200-8,600 pair 1997 Stable
Enderby Island 69 pair 2001 Stable
Auckland Island & Adams Island 20 pair 2001 Stable
Total 28,000-29,500 1997 Stable

Most of the royal albatross population is found between 30° S and 45° S.

Enderby Island. Direct counts on Enderby Island using a helicopter and also on foot in January 2017 estimated there were 47 breeding pairs there.[20] There are some sanfordi × epomophora hybrids at the northern royal albatross colony on the Otago Peninsula in New Zealand
.

Behaviour

They attract their mates using methods such as bill-snapping, clapping and gulping. Others ways also include sky-calling with outstretched wings, and neck and head stretched upwards.[21]

Feeding

The southern royal albatross eats squid and fish, with smaller amounts of carrion, crustaceans, and salps.[13] Its foraging activities normally take place within a 1250 km radius of the breeding site.[22] Although they travel vast distances, royal albatrosses in general tend to forage in somewhat shallower waters and closer to continental shelves than wandering albatrosses.[23]

Breeding

They prefer to nest on

biennially. This will normally take place in November or December. Both parents will incubate the egg, and rear the young. After they are born it takes about 240 days for a baby to grow its wings fully and fly by itself. There is very low mortality rates of the laid eggs once the parents settle in.[24] When feeding the young they will range south to the Campbell Plateau and north to the Chatham Rise.[13]

Conservation

The

IUCN classifies this bird as vulnerable,[1] with an occurrence range of 63,400,000 km2 (24,500,000 sq mi) and a breeding range of 750 km2 (290 sq mi), with a total estimated population of between 28,000 and 29,500 (1997). As a top-tier organism in its natural habitat, it has very few predators but major fishing industries are a huge problem for all albatross species among other seabirds.[25]

The population is recovering from its severe downward spiral in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By the 1880s, this albatross was

Enderby Island. Pigs and cats are still a problem, as they take chicks and eggs, on Auckland Island. Longline fishing is a major problem and a possible emerging threat is Dracophyllum, a shrub that is taking away from their nesting range.[13]

Gallery

  • Adult with chick on mound nest on Campbell Island
    Adult with chick on mound nest on Campbell Island
  • Southern Ocean, New Zealand
    Southern Ocean, New Zealand
  • Southern Ocean, New Zealand
    Southern Ocean, New Zealand
  • Pair on Campbell Island
    Pair on Campbell Island
  • Off Kaikōura, New Zealand
    Off Kaikōura, New Zealand

Footnotes

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22698314A132641187.en
    . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ISBN 978-1-877385-59-9
    .
  3. ^ Albatross, their world, their ways. De Roy, Jones and Fitter, 2008. Firefly Press
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4200-6444-5
    .
  5. ^ Double, M. C. (2003)
  6. ^ Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (Eds.). "Master Lists – IOC World Bird List". IOC World Bird List. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  7. ^ Lee, James (2008)
  8. ^ Brooke, R. (2004)
  9. ^ Robertson, C. J. R. & Nunn, G. B. (1998)
  10. ^ Clements, J. (2007)
  11. ^ Remsen Jr., C. J. (2008)
  12. ^ Gotch, A. F. (1995)
  13. ^ a b c d e f BirdLife International (2008)
  14. ISBN 978-0-19-850125-1
  15. ISBN 978-0-85112-235-9
    .
  16. ISBN 978-0-395-60291-1
  17. ^ LaGosh, J. (2004). Diomedea epomophora. Retrieved from http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Diomedea_epomophora.html
  18. ^ Robertson, C. J. R., & Kinsky, F. C. (1972). The dispersal movements of the royal albatross (Diomedea epomophora). Notornis, 19(4), 289-301.
  19. ^ "Campbell Island conservation sanctuary rat free". The Beehive. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
  20. ^ Baker, G. Barry; Elliott, Graeme; French, Rebecca K.; Jensz, Katrina; Muller, Christopher G.; Walker, Kath (2020). "Development of aerial monitoring techniques to estimate population size of great albatrosses (Diomedea spp.)". Notornis. 67 (1): 321–331.
  21. ^ Moore, Peter (2008)
  22. ^ Waugh, S., Troup, C., Filippi, D., & Weimerskirch, H. (2002). Foraging zones of Southern Royal albatrosses. The Condor, 104(3), 662-667.
  23. ^ Imber (1999). Diet and Feeding Ecology of the Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora - King of the Shelf Break and Inner Slope. Emu 99(3) 200 - 211
  24. ^ Dilks, P. J., & Wilson, P. R. (1979). Feral sheep and cattle and royal albatrosses on Campbell Island; population trends and habitat changes. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 6(1), 127-139.
  25. ^ Sullivan, B. J., Reid, T. A., & Bugoni, L. (2006). Seabird mortality on factory trawlers in the Falkland Islands and beyond. Biological Conservation, 131(4), 495–504.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Diomedea epomophora.
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