The Bulletin of the Japanese Bird Banding Association
Online ISSN : 2187-2481
Print ISSN : 0914-4307
ISSN-L : 0914-4307
Research articles
Identification of pelagic cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus by using bone size measurements
Michio FUKUDA
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2014 Volume 26 Issue 1 Pages 1-10

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Abstract
The Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus is widely distributed along the North Pacific coast. Four cormorant species inhabit Japan, and their habitats overlap with each other. The Pelagic Cormorant is the smallest species, and its range widely overlaps with both the Japanese and Great Cormorants. Therefore, bone measurements of Pelagic Cormorants are important in the identification of this species when recovered or when bones of unknown origin are excavated. However, there are few detailed reports on Pelagic Cormorant bones. Measurements on 39 parts from 14 main bones of 28 Pelagic Cormorants showed that many measurements did not overlap with either the Japanese Cormorant or the Great Cormorant. This suggested that distinguishing the Pelagic Cormorant from the Japanese Cormorant and the Great Cormorant was possible by measuring bone sizes.
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© 2014 The Japanese Bird Banding Association
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