New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Necropsy findings in yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes)
from Otago, New Zealand
A. G. Hocken
East Riding
Whiterocks Road
RD 6-D Oamaru
email: agh@es.co.nz
Abstract Necropsy was performed on each of 124
yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) opportunistically
collected from eastern Otago, in New Zealand. A review of causes of
death is presented, including 22% due to predation, 13% to starvation
and in 18% no cause was recognised. A reference database of internal
organ weights has been compiled. Anatomical comparisons, using similar
material from blue penguins (Eudyptula minor), may reflect the
deeper foraging levels of the yellow-eyed penguin. There is also
variation between the species in rates of internal parasitism and in
the presence of gastroliths.
Keywords New Zealand; yellow-eyed penguin; Megadyptes
antipodes; blue penguin; Eudyptula minor; organ weights;
BMI; nutrition; gastrolith; cause of death
Z04020; Received 15 June 2004; accepted 1 October 2004; Online
publication date 2 March 2005
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2005, Vol. 32: 1–8
0301–4223/05/3201–0001
© The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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