Townsend's Shearwater
Encyclopedia
Townsend's Shearwater, Puffinus auricularis, is a rare seabird
of the tropics
from the family Procellariidae
.
Its relationships are unresolved. Its closest relatives are probably, but not certainly, the Hawaiian Shearwater (Puffinus newelli) and possibly the Manx Shearwater
(Puffinus puffinus) (Austin, 1996; Austin et al., 2004). It formerly contained the former as a subspecies
and was long considered a subspecies of the latter. The relationship of the Rapa Shearwater, P. (newelli) myrtae in regards to these species are also in need of research; this taxon
was until recently placed in P.assimilis
(Austin et al., 2004).
This species breeds around Cerro Evermann on Isla Socorro in the Revillagigedo Islands
, Mexico
. The main threat to this species comes from feral cat
s introduced to Socorro in the early 1970s. Sheep are also destroying breeding habitat. The species bred on Isla Clarión until 1988, where habitat and nesting sites were destroyed by introduced pigs, sheep and rabbits.
The species is named for Charles Haskins Townsend
(1859-1944), eminent American ornithologist and ichthyologist.
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
of the tropics
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
from the family Procellariidae
Procellariidae
The family Procellariidae is a group of seabirds that comprises the fulmarine petrels, the gadfly petrels, the prions, and the shearwaters. This family is part of the bird order Procellariiformes , which also includes the albatrosses, the storm-petrels, and the diving petrels.The procellariids are...
.
Its relationships are unresolved. Its closest relatives are probably, but not certainly, the Hawaiian Shearwater (Puffinus newelli) and possibly the Manx Shearwater
Manx Shearwater
The Manx Shearwater is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx Shearwaters were called Manks Puffins in the 17th century. Puffin is an Anglo-Norman word for the cured carcasses of nestling shearwaters...
(Puffinus puffinus) (Austin, 1996; Austin et al., 2004). It formerly contained the former as a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
and was long considered a subspecies of the latter. The relationship of the Rapa Shearwater, P. (newelli) myrtae in regards to these species are also in need of research; this taxon
Taxon
|thumb|270px|[[African elephants]] form a widely-accepted taxon, the [[genus]] LoxodontaA taxon is a group of organisms, which a taxonomist adjudges to be a unit. Usually a taxon is given a name and a rank, although neither is a requirement...
was until recently placed in P.assimilis
Little Shearwater
The Little Shearwater is a small shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae.mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data indicates that the former North Atlantic Little Shearwater group is closer to Audubon's Shearwater , and myrtae being closer to the Newell's and possibly Townsend's Shearwater...
(Austin et al., 2004).
This species breeds around Cerro Evermann on Isla Socorro in the Revillagigedo Islands
Revillagigedo Islands
The Revillagigedo Islands or Revillagigedo Archipelago are a group of four volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean, known for their unique ecosystem...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The main threat to this species comes from feral cat
Feral cat
A feral cat is a descendant of a domesticated cat that has returned to the wild. It is distinguished from a stray cat, which is a pet cat that has been lost or abandoned, while feral cats are born in the wild; the offspring of a stray cat can be considered feral if born in the wild.In many parts of...
s introduced to Socorro in the early 1970s. Sheep are also destroying breeding habitat. The species bred on Isla Clarión until 1988, where habitat and nesting sites were destroyed by introduced pigs, sheep and rabbits.
The species is named for Charles Haskins Townsend
Charles Haskins Townsend
Charles Haskins Townsend, Sc.D. was an American zoologist, born at Parnassus, Pennsylvania. From 1897 to 1902 he was connected with the United States Fish Commission, serving as chief of the fisheries division. He then served as director of the New York Aquarium at Castle Garden, from 1902 until...
(1859-1944), eminent American ornithologist and ichthyologist.