General Description
Body white with head yellow-brown (buff). Wings white with tips and trailing edge brown-black. Long, narrow black stripe along throat. Young birds have upperparts mottled dark-brown with many white spots, and underparts white. Body up to 90 cm long.
Biology
These gannets are occasional visitors to Port Phillip in breeding seasons. They dive underwater to catch fish by rapidly plunging down from several metres above the surface.
Habitat
Coastline and large coastal bays.
Coastal shores
Distribution guide
Southern Pacific Ocean, Antarctica and Australia.
Species Group
Max Size
90 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Commercial Species
Yes
Global Dispersal
Recorded in Australia
Conservation Status
- DSE Advisory List : Not listed
- EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
- IUCN Red List : Vulnerable
Author
Wayne Longmore is a Senior Collection manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.
Author
Rory O'Brien is a Collection Manager of terrestrial vertebrates at Museum Victoria.
Cite this page as:
Longmore, N. W. & O'Brien, R., 2011, Cape Gannet, Morus capensis, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Feb 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/10191
