Galápagos Petrel
Encyclopedia
The Galápagos Petrel is a large, long-winged gadfly petrel
. The species was once known as the Dark-rumped Petrel, although recent taxonomic changes have eliminated that name from current use. (See also Hawaiian Petrel
, from which this species was split.) The local people in the Galápagos Islands often call this species the "patapegada."
The Galapagos Petrel is an endemic marine bird that nests in areas of high humidity in the highlands (generally above 200 metres (656.2 ft) elevation) of five islands of the Galapagos Archipelago
(islands San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Santiago, Floreana, and Isabela). In the past, the petrel population was severely affected by introduced mammals. These introduced animals depredated and altered the nesting colonies, leading to assessment of the petrel as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. One of the greatest threats to the population of petrels is the presence of the Black Rat
(Rattus rattus), an introduced species that is the principal cause of mortality of eggs and hatchlings of the species. Introduced plants have also altered and restricted the nesting habitat. The reproductive period of the petrels covers about eight months of the year. A study carried out in 2002 showed an egg-laying period between March to the end of October, with a peak occurring during the first two weeks of August.
Gadfly petrel
The gadfly petrels are seabirds in the bird order Procellariiformes. These medium to large petrels feed on food items picked from the ocean surface....
. The species was once known as the Dark-rumped Petrel, although recent taxonomic changes have eliminated that name from current use. (See also Hawaiian Petrel
Hawaiian Petrel
The Hawaiian Petrel or Uau is a large, dark grey-brown and white petrel that is endemic to Hawaii.-Distribution:...
, from which this species was split.) The local people in the Galápagos Islands often call this species the "patapegada."
The Galapagos Petrel is an endemic marine bird that nests in areas of high humidity in the highlands (generally above 200 metres (656.2 ft) elevation) of five islands of the Galapagos Archipelago
Galápagos Islands
The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean, west of continental Ecuador, of which they are a part.The Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form an Ecuadorian province, a national park, and a...
(islands San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Santiago, Floreana, and Isabela). In the past, the petrel population was severely affected by introduced mammals. These introduced animals depredated and altered the nesting colonies, leading to assessment of the petrel as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. One of the greatest threats to the population of petrels is the presence of the Black Rat
Black Rat
The black rat is a common long-tailed rodent of the genus Rattus in the subfamily Murinae . The species originated in tropical Asia and spread through the Near East in Roman times before reaching Europe by the 1st century and spreading with Europeans across the world.-Taxonomy:The black rat was...
(Rattus rattus), an introduced species that is the principal cause of mortality of eggs and hatchlings of the species. Introduced plants have also altered and restricted the nesting habitat. The reproductive period of the petrels covers about eight months of the year. A study carried out in 2002 showed an egg-laying period between March to the end of October, with a peak occurring during the first two weeks of August.