Black skimmer  (Rynchops niger)

Species information

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Glossary

Crustaceans: Diverse group of arthropods (a phylum of animals with jointed limbs and a hard chitinous exoskeleton) characterised by the possession of two pairs of antennae, one pair of mandibles (parts of the mouthparts used for handling and processing food) and two pairs of maxillae (appendages used in eating, which are located behind the mandibles). Includes crabs, lobsters, shrimps, slaters, woodlice and barnacles.
Incubation: The act of incubating eggs, that is, keeping them warm so that development is possible.
Mandible: In birds, the lower jaw and beak, but the term is also used to denote the two parts of the beak.
Monogamous: Having only one mate during a breeding season, or throughout the breeding life of a pair.
Subspecies: A population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.

References

  1. IUCN Red List (March, 2009)
    http://www.iucnredlist.org
  2. del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (1996) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
  3. Hilty, S.L. and Brown, W.L. (1986) A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.
  4. Burton, M. and Burton, R. (2002) International Wildlife Encyclopedia. Third Edition. Marshall Cavendish, New York.
  5. Gochfeld, M. and Burger, J. (1994) The Birds of North America Online: Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca. Available at:
    http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/108
  6. Blake, E.R. (1977) Manual of Neotropical Birds. Volume 1: Spheniscidae (Penguins) to Laridae (Gulls and Allies). University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London.
  7. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology - All About Birds: Black Skimmer (April, 2009)
    http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Skimmer/id
  8. Audubon: Black Skimmer (April, 2009)
    http://web1.audubon.org/waterbirds/species.php?speciesCode=blaski
  9. BirdLife International (April, 2009)
    http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3203&m=0
  10. Zusi, R.L. and Bridge, D. (1981) On the slit pupil of the black skimmer (Rynchops niger). Journal of Field Ornithology, 52 (4): 338 - 340.
  11. Safina, C. and Burger, J. (1983) Effects of human disturbance on reproductive success in the black skimmer. Condor, 85: 164 - 171.