Saint Helena shearwater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Helena shearwaterTemporal range: Late Pleistocene - Early Holocene
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| Scientific classification | |
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Puffinus
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| Species: |
pacificoides
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The Saint Helena shearwater (Puffinus pacificoides) was a type of seabird that is now extinct. This means it no longer lives anywhere on Earth. It belonged to the petrel family, which are birds known for spending most of their lives flying over the ocean. This special bird was only found on the remote island of Saint Helena, located in the South Atlantic Ocean.
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About the Saint Helena Shearwater
The Saint Helena shearwater was a seabird, much like the birds we see flying over the ocean today. It was part of the petrel family, which includes many different kinds of seabirds. These birds are known for their long, narrow wings that help them glide effortlessly over the waves. They spend most of their lives at sea, only coming to land to nest and raise their young.
Where Did It Live?
This unique bird lived only on the island of Saint Helena. Saint Helena is a small, isolated island located far out in the South Atlantic Ocean. Islands like Saint Helena often have special animals and plants that are found nowhere else in the world. The Saint Helena shearwater was one of these unique island creatures.
Why Did It Disappear?
Scientists believe the Saint Helena shearwater became extinct a very long time ago. This probably happened at the end of the last glacial period, or during the early Holocene epoch. The last glacial period was a time when much of the Earth was covered in ice. As the climate became warmer and the ice melted, the environment on Saint Helena might have changed. These changes could have made it difficult for the shearwater to find food or safe places to nest.
How Do We Know About It?
Even though the Saint Helena shearwater is extinct, we know it existed because of subfossil remains. Subfossils are like very old bones or other parts of an animal that have been preserved in the ground. They are not quite as old as true fossils, but they still give us clues about ancient life. Scientists found these subfossil remains on Saint Helena, which helped them learn about this lost bird.
What Does Its Name Mean?
The scientific name for the Saint Helena shearwater is Puffinus pacificoides. The second part of its name, pacificoides, gives us a hint about its relatives. It comes from the word pacificus and the Greek word oides, which means "like" or "resembling." This shows that the Saint Helena shearwater was closely related to a living species called Puffinus pacificus, also known as the Wedge-tailed Shearwater.
