| 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 | |
HaladromaIlliger, 1811 OnocralusRafinesque, 1815 (nomen novum) PuffinuriaR.-P. Lesson, 1828 PorthmornisMurphy & Harper, 1921 PelagodyptesMurphy & Harpter, 1921 | |
Thediving petrels form agenus,Pelecanoides, ofseabirds in thefamilyProcellariidae. There are four very similar species of diving petrels, distinguished only by small differences in the coloration of theirplumage, habitat, andbill 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 smallpetrels of the southern oceans. The resemblances with theauks are due toconvergent evolution, since bothfamilies 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.
The genusPelecanoides was introduced in 1799 by the French naturalistBernard Germain de Lacépède for thecommon diving petrel.[1][2] The genus name combines theAncient Greekpelekan meaning "pelican" and "-oidēs" meaning "resembling".[3]
The diving petrels were formerly placed in their ownfamily, Pelecanoididae.[2] When genetic studies found that they were embedded within the family Procellariidae, the family Pelecanoididae were merged into Procellariidae.[4][5]
Four species are usually recognised:[6]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Pelecanoides garnotii | Peruvian diving petrel | Coasts and islands ofPeru andChile. |
| Pelecanoides magellani | Magellanic diving petrel | Channels and fjords of southern Chile andTierra del Fuego. | |
_(8365384976).jpg) | Pelecanoides georgicus | South Georgia diving petrel | South Georgia and surrounding islets in the southAtlantic, and on thePrince Edward Islands,Crozet Islands,Kerguelen Islands andHeard Island and McDonald Islands in the southern Indian Ocean |
 | Pelecanoides urinatrix | Common diving petrel | Most widespread species; found onNew Zealand islands such as theSolander Islands / Hautere,Snares Islands / Tini Heke,Chatham Islands,Auckland Islands,Antipodes Islands,Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku, and numerous islands off theNorth Island; islands off southeast Australia andTasmania, islands around theAustralia-administeredMacquarie Island,subantarctic islands of theIndian 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 subspeciescoppingeri assumed to breed in uncertain areas in Chile. |
A fifth species, theWhenua Hou diving petrel (Pelecanoides whenuahouensis), is sometimes recognised.[7] It was first described in 2018 and is found aroundCodfish Island / Whenua Hou, New Zealand.[8] In the bird list maintained byFrank Gill,Pamela Rasmussen and David Donsker on behalf of theInternational Ornithological Committee the Whenua Hou diving petrel is treated as asubspecies of the South Georgia diving petrel.[6]
Theevolution and systematics of these birds is not well researched. Several populations were described as distinct species and while most of them are only subspecies, some may indeed be distinct. The prehistoricfossil record was long limited to very fragmentary remains described asP. cymatotrypetes found in EarlyPliocene deposits ofLangebaanweg,South Africa; while this bird apparently was close to the common diving petrel, no members of the genus are known from South African waters today.[9]
In 2007, ahumerus piece fromNew Zealand was described asP. miokuaka. This was found in Early/MiddleMiocene deposits and just as may be expected, it far more resembles diving petrels than any other known bird, but presents a lessapomorphic condition.[10]
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. Theplumage is shining black on the top and white on the underside. Their wings are short, particularly with regards to overall body size, and used in a highly characteristic whirring flight. This flight is low over the water and diving petrels will fly through the crests of waves without any interruption of their flight path. In the water these wings are half folded and used as paddles to propel the bird after itsprey.
Diving petrels areplankton feeders, taking mostlycrustacean prey such askrill,copepods and theamphipodThemisto gaudichaudii, also taking small fish andsquid. They have several adaptations for obtaining their prey including short powerful wings, agular pouch for storing food, and theirnostrils open upwards rather than pointing forward as in othertubenoses.
Thesebirds nest in colonies on islands. One whiteegg 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 chickfledges out to sea it is on its own.
Of the four species, two, thePeruvian diving petrel and theMagellanic diving petrel, have highly restricted ranges aroundSouth America's coasts, while thecommon diving petrel and theSouth Georgia diving petrel range widely across the southern oceans, breeding on islands off New Zealand,Subantarctic islands in theIndian Ocean, and islands in the southAtlantic (likeTristan da Cunha). The subspecies, theWhenua Hou diving petrel, has an extremely restricted range, breeding only onNew Zealand'sCodfish Island / Whenua Hou.[8]
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 byguano extraction,introduced species andclimate change, and are consideredendangered species.
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