Cape gannet

Cape gannet
Cape gannet, Bird Island, Lamberts Bay, South Africa
Cape gannet in flight
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Suliformes
Family: Sulidae
Genus: Morus
Species:
M. capensis
Binomial name
Morus capensis
Map
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

The Cape gannet (Morus capensis) is a large seabird of the gannet family, Sulidae.

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)[2]), its beak has no external nostrils into which the water might be forced.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Morus capensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22696668A132587992. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22696668A132587992.en. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  2. ^ Beak Protects during Dives: Cape Gannet, AskNature