Taxonomic classification <> Images
The black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) belongs to the family Laridae under the order Charadriiformes.
The risk of Avian botulism in black-headed gull
The species Chroicocephalus ridibundus can be affected by Avian botulism, a paralytic disease caused by ingestion of the toxin Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNt) produced by the bacteria, Clostridium botulinum.This bacteria is widespread in soil. For this bacteria to become active and produce the toxin, warm temperatures, a high protein source and an anaerobic environment is necessary. Different strains of bacteria produce different types of toxin and the Chroicocephalus ridibundus species are affected mostly by toxin type E.
The birds eating maggots from offal, carrion and dead fish and invertebrates are mostly likely to get affected. They do not normally get affected by eating the flesh of dead bird.
The maggots eating on the decaying flesh are not affected by the toxin and keep accumulating toxin. The birds eating these toxin-loaded maggots can develop botulism after eating as few as 3 or 4 maggots.
| Taxonomic classification | |
|---|---|
| Binomial name: | Chroicocephalus ridibundus |
| Species: | C. ridibundus |
| Genus: | Chroicocephalus |
| Subfamily: | - |
| Family: | Laridae |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Class: | Aves |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
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| 1.Black-headed gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus Image by Bengt Nyman |
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| 2.Black-headed gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus Image by NoRud |
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| 3.Black-headed gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus Image by Bartosz MORĄG |
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| 4.Black-headed gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus Image by Andreas Eichler |
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| 5.Black-headed gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus Image by Roland zh |
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| 6.Chroicocephalus ridibundus by Roman Andriiashik |
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| 7.Chroicocephalus ridibundus Image by Stuutje1979 |
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| 8.Chroicocephalus ridibundus Image by PierreSelim |
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| 9.Chroicocephalus ridibundus Image by J.-H. Janßen |
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| 10.Chroicocephalus ridibundus Image by Andrew Thomas |
1.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chroicocephalus_ridibundus_EM1B8730_(34394252726)_(2).jpg (cropped)
Author: Bengt Nyman | License: CC-BY-2.0 as on 6/5/17
2.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black-headed_gull_adult,_Lachm%C3%B6ve(Chroicocephalus_ridibundus).JPG (cropped)
Author: NoRud | License: CC-BY-SA-4.0
3.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black-headed_gull_(winter_plumage).JPG (cropped)
Author: Bartosz MORĄG | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0
4.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2016.07.15.-21-Badestrand_Friedrichskoog--Lachmoewe.jpg (cropped)
Author: Andreas Eichler | License: CC-BY-SA-4.0
5.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chroicocephalus_ridibundus_-_Z%C3%BCrichhorn_2010-10-05_17-14-50.JPG (cropped)
Author: Roland zh | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0
6.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%A7%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BA%D0%B8_IMG_7910.jpg (cropped)
Author: Roman Andriiashik | License: CC-BY-SA-4.0
7.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stuutje1979_Black-headed_Gull_1.JPG (cropped)
Author: Stuutje1979 | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0
8.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Annecy%27s_Lake_-_20111229_-_Larus_ridibundus_01.JPG (cropped)
Author: PierreSelim | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0
9.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Binz_Chroicocephalus_ridibundus_05.jpg (cropped)
Author: J.-H. Janßen | License: CC-BY-SA-3.0
10.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Headed_Gull,_Par_Beach,_Cornwall_-_UK,_August_10_2012._(15027636575).jpg (cropped)
Author: Andrew Thomas | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 6/6/17
Current topic in Birds of India: Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) images.