Dow's puffin (SciiFii)

Dow's puffin (Fratercula dowi) is a species of seabird in the auk family that originally lived in the Channel Islands of California during the Pleistocene and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced to the Channel Islands of California to help boost biodiversity. The Dow's puffin is a relatively small puffin, being intermediate regarding the extent of dorsoventral expansion of the rostrum and mandible, between puffins of the genus Fratercula and the closely related rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata). Both the common name and the specific epithet is named after Ronald J. Dow, who was involved in finding the original Dow's puffin (sub)fossils. The Dow's puffin primarily feeds on fish, with some krill and squid taken also. They feed inshore during the breeding season in the midwater. To catch their prey, they dive as deep as 59 meters (193 ft) for as long as 157 seconds. Breeding occurs in the early summer months, ranging from May to June. The Dow's puffin nests in burrows dug into the soil, or in natural caves and cavities between 1 and 5 meters deep. It prefers nesting sites on slight inclines to aid take-off, as it is a poor flier. A single egg is incubated by both parents for 30–35 days. Although the Dow's puffin is native only to the Channel Islands of California, the Dow's puffin is commonly seen throughout the coastlines of mainland Southern California., both from the distance (flying/swimming near the mainland) and on the rocky cliffs, tide pools, and beaches on the mainland, being able to adapt to predation on the mainland, only breeding on the Channel Islands. The conservation status of the Dow's puffin is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the Dow's puffin's wide natural range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii