Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Skeletal morphoanatomy of the Brown Skua Stercorarius antarcticus lonnbergi and the South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polar Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Brown Skua Stercorarius antarcticus lonnbergi and the South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki, which breed sympatrically in the Southern Hemisphere, are difficult to identify in the field because of their similar coloration and external morphology. Although several morphological and biological aspects have been previously discussed, no data have been published about their skeletal anatomy. In this paper we make a comparative description of the cranial and appendicular skeleton of both skua species. As a result, and although the differences are small, it has been found that some characters of the skull and the thoracic and pelvic limbs, allow the distinction between S. antarcticus lonnbergi and S. maccormicki.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acosta Hospitaleche C, Tambussi C (2006) Skull morphometry of Pygoscelis (Sphenisciformes): inter and intraspecific variations. Polar Biol 29:728–734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ainley DG, Spear LB, Wood RC (1985) Sexual color and size variation in the South Polar Skua. Condor 87:427–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersson M (1973) Behaviour of the Pomarine Skua, Stercorarius pomarinus Temm. with comparative remarks on Stercorariinae. Ornis Scandinavica 4:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersson M (1999a) Hybridization and skua phylogeny. Proc R Soc Lond B 266:1579–1585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andersson M (1999b) Phylogeny, behaviour, plumage evolution and neoteny in Skuas Stercorariidae. J Avian Biol 30:205–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baumel J, Witmer LM (1993) Osteología. In: Baumel J, King A, Breazile JE, Evans H, Vanden Bergue JC (eds) Handbook of avian anatomy. Nomina Anatomica Avium, Cambridge, pp 45–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Blechschmidt K, Peter H-U, de Korte J, Wink M, Seibold I, Helbig AJ (1993) Untersuchungen zur molekularen Systematik der Raubmoewen (Stercorariidae). Zoologische Jahrbücher Abteilung für Systematik 120:379–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Bookstein FL (1996) Biometrics, biomathematics and the morphometric synthesis. Bull Math Biol 58:313–365

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen BL, Baker AJ, Blechschmidt K, Dittmann DL, Furness RW, Gerwin JA, Helbig AJ, de Korte J, Marshall HD, Palma RL, Peter H-U, Ramli R, Siebold I, Willcox MS, Wilson RH, Zink RM (1997) Enigmatic phylogeny of skuas (Aves: Stercorariidae). Proc R Soc Lond B 264:181–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Korte J, Blechschmidt K, Peter H-U, Reinhardt K, Furness RW, Cohen B, Wilson R, Montalti D (1994) Verwandtschaftsbeziehungen der Stercorariidae. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft 87th, p 228

  • Devillers P (1977) The skuas of the North American pacific coast. Auk 94:417–429

    Google Scholar 

  • Devillers P (1978) Distribution and relationships of South American skuas. Le Gerfaut 68:374–417

    Google Scholar 

  • Furness RW (1987) The skuas. Poyser, Calton

    Google Scholar 

  • Furness RW (1996) Family Stercorariidae (skuas). In: del Hoyo J, Elliot A, Sargatal J (eds) Handbook of the birds of the world, vol 3. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, pp 556–571

  • Furness RW, Cohen BL, Peter H-U, Blechschmidt K, Ramli R, Wilson RH, Wilcox MS, Palma R, de Korte J, Seibold I, Helbig AJ, Wink M (1995) Mitochondrial DNA and ectoparasites indicate evolution through intergeneric hybridization within the family Stercorariidae (Aves) In: Tasker ML (ed) Threats to seabirds: proceedings of the 5th international seabird group conference. Seabird Group, Sandy, p 22

  • Hamilton JE (1934) The sub-antarctic forms of the great skua (Catharacta skua skua). Discov Rep 9:161–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Hemmings AD (1984) Aspects of the breeding biology of maccormick’s skua Catharacta maccormicki at Signy Island, South Orkney Island. Br Antarct Surv Bull 65:65–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Leotta GA, Paré J, Sigler L, Montalti D, Vigo G, Petruccelli M, Reinoso EH (2002) Thelebolus microsporus mycelial mats in the trachea of wild Brown Skua Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi and South Polar Skua C. maccormicki carcasses. J Wildl Dis 38:443–447

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lowe PR, Kinnear NB (1930) Birds. British Antarctic (“Terra Nova”) Expedition, 1910. Nat Hist Rep Zool 4:103–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Marchant S, Higgins PJ (1993) Handbook of the Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds, vol 2. Raptors to lapwings. Oxford University Press, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • Montalti D (2005) Morfología y biología reproductiva de las especies del género Catharacta (Aves, Stercorariidae) de la Antártida. Doctoral thesis, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata

  • Murphy RC (1936) Oceanic birds of South America, vol 2. American Museum of Natural History, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen KM, Larsson H (1997) Skuas and jaegers: a guide to the skuas and jaegers of the world. Pica Press, Mountfield

    Google Scholar 

  • Parmelee DF, Bernstein N, Neilson DR (1978) Impact of unfavorable ice conditions on bird productivity at Palmer Station during the 1977–78 field season. Antarct J US 13:146–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Peter H-U, Kaiser M, Gebauer A (1990) Ecological and morphological investigations on South Polar Skua (Catharacta maccormicki) and Brown Skuas (Catharacta skua lonnbergi) on Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, South Shetland Islands. Zoologische Jahrbücher Abteilung für Systematik 117:201–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Pietz PJ (1984) Aspects of behavioral ecology of sympatric South Polar skuas near Palmer station, Antarctica. Doctoral thesis, Universidad de Minnesota, Minneapolis

  • Pietz PJ (1986) Daily activity patterns of south polar and Brown Skuas near Palmer Station, Antarctica. Auk 103:726–736

    Google Scholar 

  • Pietz PJ (1987) Feeding and nesting ecology of sympatric south polar and Brown Skuas. Auk 104:617–627

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabello Monteiro L, Furtado dos Reis S (1999) Princípios de morfometria geométrica. Holos editora, Ribeiro Preto, 198 pp

  • Reinhardt K (1997) Food and feeding of Antarctic skua chicks Catharacta antarctica lonnbergi and C. maccormicki. J Ornithol 138:199–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhardt K, Blechschmidt K, Peter H-U, Montalti D (1997) A hitherto unknown hybridization between Chilean and South polar skua. Polar Biol 17:114–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritz MS, Hahn S, Janicke T, Peter H-U (2006) Hybridisation between South polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki) and Brown Skua (C. antarctica lonnbergi) in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Polar Biol 29:153–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritz MS, Millar C, Miller G, Phillips A, Ryan P, Sternkopf V, Liebres-Helbig D, Peter H-U (2008) Phylogeography of the southern skua complex-rapid colonization of the southern hemisphere during a glacial period and reticulate evolution. Mol Phylogente Evol 49:292–303

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rohlf FJ (2005) tpsDig, digitize landmarks and outlines, version 2.04. Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York, Stony Brook

  • Rohlf FJ, Slice DE (1990) Extensions of the Procrustes method for the optimal superimposition of landmarks. Syst Zool 39:40–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sibley CG, Monroe BL (1990) Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Trivelpiece W, Volkman NJ (1982) Feeding strategies of sympatric south polar Catharacta maccormicki and Brown Skuas Catharacta lonnbergi. Ibis 124:50–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Votier SC, Bearhop S, Newell RG, Orr K, Furness RW, Kennedy M (2004) The first record of Brown Skua Catharacta antarctica in Europe. Ibis 146:95–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Votier SC, Kennedy M, Berhop S, Newell R, Griffiths K, Whitaker H, Ritz M, Furness R (2007) Supplementary DNA evidence fails to confirm presence of Brown Skuas Stercorarius antarctica in Europe: a retraction of Votier et al. (2004). Ibis 149:619–621

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

To Mercedes Barreda for English improvement, Maximiliano Walter who drew the map an PICT 499 for support. To the editor and the reviewers.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Carolina Acosta Hospitaleche & Diego Montalti

  2. División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina

    Carolina Acosta Hospitaleche

  3. Departamento Biología, Aves, Instituto Antártico Argentino, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Diego Montalti & Lucas José Marti

Authors
  1. Carolina Acosta Hospitaleche
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Diego Montalti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lucas José Marti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carolina Acosta Hospitaleche.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Acosta Hospitaleche, C., Montalti, D. & Marti, L.J. Skeletal morphoanatomy of the Brown Skua Stercorarius antarcticus lonnbergi and the South Polar Skua Stercorarius maccormicki . Polar Biol 32, 759–774 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0579-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0579-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation