Flood, Robert L.;Wilson, Angus C.;Zufelt, Kirk
Species
シロハラミズナギドリ属
GENUS
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderProcellariiformes
- FamilyProcellariidae
Habitatmarine
Observations recorded264,420
via GBIF
Museum specimens
- Specimen records
- 393
- With media
- 100
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Collections
- USNM
- Recorded in
- United States
~2 min read
Encyclopedic overview
The gadfly petrels or Pterodroma are a genus of about 35 species of petrels, part of the seabird order Procellariiformes. The gadfly petrels are named for their speedy weaving flight, as if evading gadflies (horseflies). The flight action is also reflected in the name Pterodroma, from Ancient Greek pteron, "wing" and dromos, "runner".
The short, sturdy bills of these medium to large petrels are adapted for soft prey that they pick from the ocean surface. They have twisted intestines for digesting marine animals that have unusual biochemistries.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Pterodroma” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.