The Guadalupe murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus) or Xantus's murrelet is a small seabird found in the California Current system in the Pacific Ocean. This auk breeds on islands off California and Mexico. It is threatened by predators introduced to its breeding colonies and by oil spills.
This species together with the Scripps's murrelet were considered conspecific and were classified under S. hypoleucus; known collectively as Xantus's murrelet until 2012. Enough evidence was collected to consider both species distinct based on a lack of evidence of interbreeding where the two species nest together on the San Benito Islands, differences in facial pattern and bill shape, vocalizations and genetics. This has changed since, but not because the present species' status has improved, but because other auks have become rarer.
Guadalupe murrelet is mainly threatened by oil spills, as much of its population lives near the busy shipping lanes connecting Los Angeles to other ports. Because a large part of its small population nests in such a small area a single catastrophic oil spill could have far reaching implications. It is also threatened by introduced species such as rats and feral cats; this threat has been lessened lately by efforts to restore its habitat by removing introduced predators.
References
Further reading
- Drost, C.A. & Lewis, D.B. (1995): Xantus's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus hypoleucus). In: Poole, A. & Gill, F. (eds.): The Birds of North America: 164. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA & American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
- Gaston, Anthony & Jones, Ian (1998): The Auks, Alcidae. Oxford University Press, Oxford. <small></small>