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Albatross
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Albatross Facts
Kingdom: Five groups that classify all living things | Animalia |
Phylum: A group of animals within the animal kingdom | Chordata |
Class: A group of animals within a pylum | Aves |
Order: A group of animals within a class | Procellariiformes |
Family: A group of animals within an order | Diomedeidae |
Scientific Name: The name of the animal in science | Diomedeidae |
Common Name: Most widely used name for this species | Albatross |
Other Name(s): Different names for this animal | Tubenose |
Group: The domestic group such as cat or dog | Bird |
Number Of Species: The total number of recorded species | 21 |
Location: The place where something is found | across the southern seas |
Habitat: The specific area where the animal lives | southern waters and islands |
Colour: The colour of the animal's coat or markings | Black, White, Brown, Red, Yellow |
Skin Type: The protective layer of the animal | Feathers |
Size (L): How long (L) or tall (H) the animal is | 0.9m - 1.3m (35in - 51in) |
Wingspan: The measurement from one wing tip to the other | 2m - 3.4m (78in - 134in) |
Weight: The measurement of how heavy the animal is | 8kg - 10kg (17lbs - 22lbs) |
Top Speed: The fastest recorded speed of the animal | 64kph (40mph) |
Diet: What kind of foods the animal eats | Carnivore |
Main Prey: The food that the animal gains energy from | Fish, Crab, Squid |
Predators: Other animals that hunt and eat the animal | Humans, Tiger Sharks |
Lifestyle: Whether the animal is solitary or sociable | Diurnal |
Group Behaviour: How the animal behaves in a group | Colonial Nesting |
Water Type: Either freshwater, brakish or salt | Salt |
Lifespan: How long the animal lives for | 12 - 40 years |
Age Of Sexual Maturity: When the animal can produce offspring | 2 - 7 years |
Incubation Period: The time from when an egg is laid to when it hatches | 2 - 3 months |
Average Clutch Size: The average number of eggs laid at once | 1 |
Name Of Young: The name given to the offspring | Chick |
Age Of Fledgling: The age when the bird can fly | 5 - 10 months |
Conservation Status: The likelihood of the animal becoming extinct | Endangered |
Estimated Population Size: How many of this animal are thought to exist | Low |
Biggest Threat: The largest danger to this animal | Lone-line fishing |
Most Distinctive Feature: Characteristics unique to this animal | Long, hook-tipped beak |
Fun Fact: An exciting thing about this animal | The largest wingspan of any bird! |
Albatross Location

Albatross
Albatross Classification and EvolutionThe Albatross is a large species of sea-bird found throughout the southern Pacific and even into the colder Antarctic regions. There are 21 different species of Albatross found across the southern seas, but sadly 19 of the different Albatross species are said to be threatened with extinction today. The Albatross is closely related to other sea-birds including Petrels, which are all unique among Birds due to the tubular nostrils on either side of the top of their bill, meaning these Birds are often referred to as Tubenoses. The Albatross was first brought into the public spotlight with Coleridge's 1798 poem, the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.
Albatross Anatomy and Appearance
The Albatross is one of the largest Birds in the skies as the wingspan of the male Wandering Albatross can easily reach 3.5 meters or more in length, meaning that it has the largest wingspan of any Bird. The Wandering Albatross also has a body that is more than 1 meter long (including the tail), with the size of other species generally being slightly smaller. The Albatross is an easily identifiable Bird with long, narrow wings, a large head, and a long, strong bill which is hooked at the end and has sharp blades on either side to handle slippery prey. There are three toes on each of the Albatross's feet with webbed skin between each one. Unlike many other species of Bird, the Albatross has no hind toes as these sea-birds simply have no need for them.
Albatross Distribution and Habitat
All 21 different species of Albatross are mainly distributed throughout the southern Pacific, with some species found far into the Southern Ocean. Although the Albatross is not found in the northern parts of the Atlantic, a number of species of found in the north Pacific, with the Wading Albatross being the highest up, with its nesting sites found on the Galapagos Islands. The Albatross is unique among many Birds as it is air-bound for the majority of its life. Albatrosses spend their entire lives gliding above the waves and are known to fly thousands of miles in a very short space of time. During the breeding season, the Albatross finally returns to dry land, where they nest in large colonies on the cliffs of remote, rocky islands that are generally inside the Antarctic Tundra.
Albatross Behaviour and Lifestyle
The tapered wings of the Albatross means that it tends to glide through the air rather than flying which uses much more energy. The Albatross is known to practice a flying technique known as dynamic soaring, meaning that the Albatross makes use of the up-drafts of wind above the waves to give it extra lift, for longer periods of time, and without really doing anything. The Albatross has excellent eyesight as it sees its prey from the sky, swooping down to snap a Fish from the surface or sometimes even diving into the water. They are known to also have an exceptional sense of smell which allows them to detect both prey and their breeding grounds, even in the dark.
Albatross Reproduction and Life Cycles
The Albatross nests in large colonies on islands, where there can be thousands of other Albatross individuals, some of which have been flying solidly for up to 7 seven years until they reach the age of sexual maturity. After a unique courtship display which involves grunting and scraping their beaks, males and females pair off to mate. The female Albatross lays just one egg that can weigh up to half a kilo, in a basic nest on the ground. The Albatross parents take it in turns to incubate the egg for 2-3 months depending on the size of the Albatross species. The Albatross parents protect and clean their chick until it is able to fly. Albatross chicks can take anywhere from 5 to 10 months to fledge, depending on the size of the Albatross species. They are very long living Birds with an average age of between 40 and 50 years old.
Albatross Diet and Prey
The Albatross is a carnivorous Bird as the diet of the Albatross solely consists of Fish and other aquatic animals. The Albatross feeds on Fish, Squid, Krill, Crabs and other Crustaceans by either diving, swooping down onto the water's surface, or from scavenging the kill from another animal. They are also known to eat both carrion and refuge that is floating on or close to the surface of the water. The excellent sight and smell of the Albatross, along with its well-designed and razor-sharp beak, means that this animal is perfectly adapted for a life at sea. Chicks are fed by the highly nutritious yet foul smelling stomach oil of their parents until they are able to handle solid, and more slippery meals.
Albatross Predators and Threats
Due to the fact that the Albatross is so big and the fact that the Albatross spends nearly its whole life in the safety of the sky, the Albatross has no real predators besides Humans who have hunted them in the past. The Albatross also nests in such remote places that they are safe from nearly all other animals with the exception of some Tiger Sharks who are known to lay in wait when the young Albatross chicks are learning how to fly, greedily hoping to snap up any stragglers. The interesting thing about this is that the Tiger Sharks appear to return to the same spot every year, knowing that the Albatross chicks will be practising their launching and gliding techniques, and they are therefore guaranteed an easy snack.
Albatross Interesting Facts and Features
Albatrosses are known to be able to cover thousands of miles in a short space of time with the Grey-Headed Albatross being able to fly so far, with such little effort that they can complete a full circle around the Earth in just over a month. The Albatross was made famous by Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem at the end of the 1700s, which indicated that these enormous sea-birds embodied the souls of drowned sailors. This led to a great deal of superstition surrounding the hunting of the Albatross, as it was thought to be very bad luck amongst seafarers.
Albatross Relationship with Humans
An estimated 100,000 Albatrosses, of various different species, are thought to be killed every year by illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean, predominantly for Tuna. These fishermen use long fishing lines, with baited hooks which Albatross can be easily caught up in when they are simply trying to catch their supper. It is thought that the females are actually at a greater risk from these lines than the males, due to the fact that the two tend to feed in differing regions. Despite some superstition towards killing the Albatross by sailors, they were hunted quite vigorously by Humans during the 19th century for their feathers which were used to stuff pillows.
Albatross Conservation Status and Life Today
Today, 19 out of the 21 different Albatross species are listed as animals that are Endangered in their natural environments. Although the populations of the remaining two species are not quite as low, numbers are falling and both are considered to be Threatened species. The main reason for the drastic decline in Albatross numbers across the southern seas, is lone-line Tuna fishing, which these enormous sea-birds can become easily caught on.
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First Published: 21st December 2009, Last Updated: 10th September 2018
Sources:
1. About Albatrosses, Available at: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/albatross.aspx#1 [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
2. Albatross Appearance, Available at: [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
3. Albatross Distribution, Available at: [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
4. Albatross Information, Available at: [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
5. Christopher Perrins, Oxford University Press (2009) The Encyclopedia Of Birds [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
6. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
7. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011]
8. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
9. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
10. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
1. About Albatrosses, Available at: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/albatross.aspx#1 [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
2. Albatross Appearance, Available at: [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
3. Albatross Distribution, Available at: [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
4. Albatross Information, Available at: [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
5. Christopher Perrins, Oxford University Press (2009) The Encyclopedia Of Birds [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
6. David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
7. David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia [Accessed at: 01 Jan 2011]
8. Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
9. Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
10. Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals [Accessed at: 21 Dec 2009]
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