Lava gull

The lava gull (Leucophaeus fuliginosus), also known as the dusky gull,[2] is a medium-sized gull and a member of the "hooded gull" group. It is most closely related to the Laughing gull and Franklin's gull[3] and is the rarest gull in the world. It is endemic to the Galapagos Islands.

Lava gull
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Leucophaeus
Species:
L. fuliginosus
Binomial name
Leucophaeus fuliginosus
(Gould, 1841)
Synonyms

Larus fuliginosus

Taxonomy and systematics

First described by John Gould in 1841 from a specimen collected on Santiago Island in the Galápagos. The species is sometimes placed in the genus Larus. It is possibly closely related to the laughing gull.[2]

Description

The lava gull is a distinctive gull, 51 to 55 cm (20–22 in) and weighs 380 g (13 oz). The adult plumage consists of a sooty brown to black head, which unlike other dark hooded gulls doesn't vary by season. The wings are dark gray with a contrasting white line on the leading edge, thought to play a function in displays and camouflage. Its dark gray body contrasts with a paler gray belly. The uppertail is white and grey lower down. The bill and legs are black, and the inside of the mouth is scarlet. It has white upper and lower eyebrows, with red lids. Immature gulls are generally dark brown.[2]

Lava Gull standing

Distribution

The entire population lives on the Galapagos Islands where it is found predominantly on the islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela, San Cristobal and Genovesa. Previously its population was estimated at 300–400 pairs;[4] this estimate was revised downwards to 300-600 individuals in 2015.[5] It is currently considered the rarest gull in the world.[2]

Behaviour

Breeding
Lava gull nestling

Unlike most gulls which nest close together and sometimes touching, lava gulls are solitary nesters, rarely nesting closer than 100 meters apart. They are highly territorial, defending breeding territories of roughly 2000 sq. meters (70 m diameter) from conspecifics. They nest on the ground, often under the protection of coastal vegetation, and line the nest with plant material. They lay two olive-colored and well-camouflaged eggs that take 32 days to incubate. They generally nest close to calm water, often near lagoons. Breeding appears to be opportunistic and is not restricted to a single season. Young birds fledge at 55 days and continue to be cared for by the adults for several weeks.[2]

Diet and feeding

They are omnivores like most Larus gulls, generally scavenging or stealing from nests and from fishers, but will also catch fish, small crustaceans, and newly hatched lizards, iguanas, and turtles. They also feed on sea lion placenta. On Genovesa they exploit the kleptoparasitic behavior of the Magnificent frigatebird, capitalizing on the botched attempts by these frigatebirds to steal fish from various nesting seabirds. Potential nest predators include owls, frigatebirds and other lava gulls, as well as introduced mammals.[2]

Status and conservation

The lava gull is categorized as "vulnerable" by the IUCN Red List because it exists in small numbers and though the population is stable, it faces numerous threats.[2]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Larus fuliginosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi (eds.). "Handbook of Birds of the World Alive". Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  3. Pons, J.M.; Hassanin, A. & Crochet, P.A. (2005). "Phylogenetic relationships within the Laridae (Charadriiformes: Aves) inferred from mitochondrial markers". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 37 (3): 686–699. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.05.011. PMID 16054399.
  4. Snow, B.K.; Snow, D.W. (1969). "Observations on the Lava Gull (Larus fuliginosus)". Ibis. 111 (1): 30–35. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919x.1969.tb01602.x.
  5. Grant, K.T.; Estes, O.E. & Estes, G.B. (2015). "Observations on the breeding and distribution of Lava Gull Leucophaeus fuliginosus" (PDF). Cotinga. 37: 22–37. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-18. Retrieved 2015-04-18.
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