Kerguelen Petrel
A species of Kerguelen Petrel Scientific name : Aphrodroma brevirostris Genus : Kerguelen Petrel
Kerguelen Petrel, A species of Kerguelen Petrel
Botanical name: Aphrodroma brevirostris
Genus: Kerguelen Petrel
Content
Description
Description
The Kerguelen petrel (Aphrodroma brevirostris) is a small (36 cm long) slate-grey seabird in the family Procellariidae. The species has been described as a "taxonomic oddball", being placed for a long time in Pterodroma (the gadfly petrels) before being split out in 1942 into its own genus Aphrodroma. The position within the procellariids is still a matter of debate; when it was split away from the Pterodroma petrels it was suggested that it may be a fulmarine petrel, whereas a 1998 study placed the species close to the shearwaters and the genus Bulweria. Kerguelen petrels breed colonially on remote islands; colonies are present on Gough Island in the Atlantic Ocean, and Marion Island, Prince Edward Island, Crozet Islands and Kerguelen Island in the Indian Ocean. The species attends its colonies nocturnally, breeding in burrows in wet soil. The burrows usually face away from the prevailing wind. A single egg is laid per breeding season; the egg is unusually round for the family. The egg is incubated by both parents for 49 days. After hatching the chick fledges after 60 days. 
Size
36 cm
Feeding Habits
Kerguelen Petrel predominantly feeds on squid, krill, and fish, with cephalopods being crucial in their diet. They capture prey by surface-seizing mainly at night and engage in dipping and surface-plunging. Kerguelen Petrel can forage alone or in small groups, occasionally following cetaceans, and may scavenge for food.
Habitat
Kerguelen Petrel typically resides in marine and highly pelagic environments, preferring cold water regions. Their breeding grounds are associated with marshy terrains close to the sea and can also be found on volcanic ridges. These birds inhabit broader geographical areas characterized by these conditions, away from human settlements.
Dite type
Piscivorous
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Albatrosses and Petrels Family
Shearwaters and petrels Genus
Kerguelen Petrel Species
Kerguelen Petrel 
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