Cape gannet
The Cape gannet (Morus capensis) is a large seabird of the gannet family, Sulidae.
| Cape gannet | |
|---|---|
| Cape gannet, Bird Island, Lamberts Bay, South Africa | |
| Cape gannet in flight | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Suliformes |
| Family: | Sulidae |
| Genus: | Morus |
| Species: | M. capensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Morus capensis (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823) | |
| The breeding range of the Cape gannet is confined to six islands along the coast of Southern Africa, viz. Bird Island (Algoa Bay), Malgas Island, and Bird Island (Lambert's Bay) in South Africa. And the Penguin Islands of Mercury Island, Ichaboe Island and Possession Island in Namibia.
Extant (breeding)
Extant (non-breeding) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Sula capensis | |
They are easily identified by their large size, black and white plumage and distinctive yellow crown and hindneck. The pale blue bill is pointed with fine serrations near the tip; perhaps because of the depth and speed of the gannet's dive when fishing (depending on altitude, gannets hit the water at speeds of between 40 and 120 km/h (25 and 75 mph)), its beak has no external nostrils into which the water might be forced.
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