White-breasted cormorant | |
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Lake Ziway, Ethiopia | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Suliformes |
Family: | Phalacrocoracidae |
Genus: | Phalacrocorax |
Species: | P. lucidus
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Binomial name | |
Phalacrocorax lucidus (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823)
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Range, excluding isolated northern and western populations[1]
breeding range non-breeding range
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Synonyms | |
Phalacrocorax carbo lucidus |
The white-breasted cormorant (Phalacrocorax lucidus) is a species of cormorant closely related to the widely distributed great cormorant. While debate persists over whether it constitutes a distinct species or a regional variant of the great cormorant, its distinguishing features include a white breast and a preference for freshwater habitats among its subpopulations.[2] The species should not be confused with the smaller and morphologically distinct endemic South Australian black-faced cormorant, which occasionally shares the common name "white-breasted cormorant".