The Cape petrel (Daption capense) is a seabird belonging to family Procellariidae. The Cape petrels are distributed in the Southern Ocean with an estimated population of two million. There are two recognized subspecies of these birds. The subspecies D. c. capense occurs in Antarctic and subantarctic islands. The subspecies D. c. australe occurs in Antarctic seas between Australasia, New Zealand and Antarctica. During the winter they range further north visiting African coast and Indian islands.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had categorized and evaluated these petrel species and had listed them as of 'Least Concern'.
The Cape petrels are small birds, measuring 35 to40 cm in length and weighing 350 to500 grams. They have wingspan of 90 cm. Their head is black with white belly and breast. The underwings are white with black border. Their upper wings and back are black, speckled with white.
These petrels feed on krill, crustaceans, fish and squids. They seize their prey from the sea surface as well as by diving.under water. They produce stomach oil, which they spray out when threatened. These petrels have a salt gland in their nasal passage and excrete high saline solution to desaline themselves.
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| Indian bird - Cape petrel - Daption capense |
| Biological classification of Daption capense | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Procellariiformes |
| Family: | Procellariidae |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Genus: | Daption |
| Species: | D. capense |
| Binomial name: | Daption capense |
| Distribution: | Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans; Indian islands; |
| Feeding habits: | fish, squids and plankton; |
| IUCN status listing: | Least Concern |
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Daption_capense_in_flight_-_SE_Tasmania.jpg
Author: JJ Harrison | License: CC BY-SA 3.0
Current topic: Cape petrel - Daption capense.