| Antarctic prion | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Procellariiformes |
| Family: | Procellariidae |
| Genus: | Pachyptila |
| Species: | P. desolata |
| Binomial name | |
| Pachyptila desolata (Gmelin, JF, 1789) | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
Procellaria desolata (protonym) | |
TheAntarctic prion (Pachyptila desolata) also known as thedove prion, ortotorore inMāori, is the largest of theprions,[2] agenus of smallpetrels of theSouthern Ocean.
The Antarctic prion wasformally described in 1789 by the German naturalistJohann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition ofCarl Linnaeus'sSystema Naturae. He placed it with the other petrels in thegenusProcellaria and coined thebinomial nameProcellaria desolata.[3] Gmelin based his description on the "brown-banded petrel" that had been described in 1785 by the English ornithologistJohn Latham from a specimen supplied by the naturalistJoseph Banks that had been collected on the "Isle of Desolation", now theKerguelen Islands.[4] The Antarctic prion is now one of seven prions placed in the genusPachyptila that was introduced in 1811 by the German zoologistJohann Karl Wilhelm Illiger.[5][6] The genus name combines theAncient Greekpakhus meaning "dense" or "thick" withptilon meaning "feather" or "plumage". The specific epithetdesolata is fromLatindesolatus meaning "forsaken" or "desolated".[7] The species ismonotypic: nosubspecies are recognised.[6]
Prions are members of thefamilyProcellariidae, and theorderProcellariiformes. The prions are small and typically eat justzooplankton;[8] however as a member of the Procellariiformes, they share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill callednaricorns. Although the nostrils on the prion are on top of the upper bill. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between seven and nine horny plates. They produce astomach oil made up ofwax esters andtriglycerides that is stored in theproventriculus. This can be sprayed out of their mouths as a defence against predators and as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights.[9] Finally, they also have asalt gland that is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies, due to the high amount of ocean water that they imbibe. It excretes a high saline solution from their nose.[10]
The Antarctic prion has an overall length of 27 cm (11 in), a wingspan of 61–66 cm (24–26 in) and weighs 150–160 g (5.3–5.6 oz).Like allprions, its underparts are white and upperparts are blue-grey, with a dark "M" across its back to its wingtips. It has a white eyebrow, blue-greybill, and blue feet. It also has a grey wedge-shaped tail with a black tip. On its wings, its greatercoverts are near black. It is so similar in appearance toSalvin's prion that the two species cannot be distinguished at sea.[11]
It breeds in colonies on theAuckland Islands,Heard Island,Macquarie Island,Scott Island,South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, theSouth Orkney Islands,South Shetland Islands,Crozet Islands, and theKerguelen Islands.[1] When not breeding, it ranges throughout the southern oceans.[12]
Like all prions, the Antarctic prion eats primarilyzooplankton, which it obtains by filtering water through its upper bill.[8]
The Antarctic prion nests incolonies, and prefers islands in theSouthern Ocean. Both sexes assist in building the nest, as well asincubating the singleegg and raising the chick.[8]
The Antarctic prion has an occurrence range of 76,600,000 km2 (29,600,000 sq mi) and an estimated adult bird population of 50 million.[1][13]
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