Amsterdam Albatross
Diomedea amsterdamensis
EndangeredAves · Procellariiformes · Diomedeidae
About
The Amsterdam albatross or Amsterdam Island albatross, is a large albatross which breeds only on Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean. It was only described in 1983, and was thought by some researchers to be a subspecies of the wandering albatross, D. exulans. BirdLife International and the IOC recognize it as a species, James Clements does not, and the SACC has a proposal on the table to split the species. More recently, mitochondrial DNA comparisons between the Amsterdam albatross, the wandering albatross Diomedea exulans, the Antipodean albatross D. antipodensis and the Tristan albatross D. dabbenena, provide clear genetic evidence that the Amsterdam albatross is a separate species.
Fun Fact
The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between seven and nine horny plates.
Quick Facts
Habitat
To be updated
Diet
Eat squid, crustaceans, and fish.
Lifespan
To be updated
Threats
- Habitat Loss
- Poaching and Hunting
- Human-Wildlife Conflict
- Disease