Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285:reg:13:p63
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L01285
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 13 (pt 63/98)
Character Range: 401809–404969

Originally Diomedea exulans Linnaeus 1758. There has been considerable debate about the taxonomy for the wandering-type albatrosses (ACAP 2012b). Diomedea antipodensis is listed under the EPBC Act at the specific level, with Diomedea antipodensis gibsoni (Gibson's Albatross) listed as a subspecies. Robertson & Warham (1992) proposed the nomenclature Diomedea exulans antipodensis (and Diomedea exulans gibsoni). The species was recommended to be raised to specific level by Robertson & Nunn (1998) as Diomedea antipodensis and Diomedea gibsoni based on the species' morphology and ecology, with ACAP concluding on advice from its Taxonomy Working Group that available data do not warrant the recognition of Antipodean and Gibson's albatrosses as separate species (Double 2006, ACAP 2006).

Current status of taxon

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth): Vulnerable
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (Western Australia): Endangered
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (South Australia): not listed
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Victoria): not listed
Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (Tasmania): not listed
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (New South Wales): Vulnerable
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Queensland): Vulnerable
IUCN Red list of Threatened Species: Endangered
Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020: population visiting Australia Critically Endangered

Species description

A large albatross, the Antipodean Albatross is approximately 100-115 cm in length, 4.3-8.9 kg in weight, with a wing length of 60-70 cm, and bill length of 139-155 mm (ACAP 2015, Menkhorst et al. 2017). Tubenosed; separate nostrils on a large, pink plated bill with yellowish tip. Combination of white and brownish plumage with mostly dark blackish-brown upperparts with variable white on neck and back, with clean white face and mostly white underparts, except for dark wingtips, without brown breast band (Onley & Scofield 2007, BirdLife International 2018b). Very similar in plumage to Wandering Albatross.

Life history

Breeding locality                                     Jurisdiction

Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Campbell Island  New Zealand

Endemic to New Zealand with six breeding sites on the sub-Antarctic Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island. The Antipodean Albatross is a biennial breeder, when successful. The breeding season varies by a few weeks between the islands, commencing on the Auckland Islands, then on the Antipodes Islands and later on Campbell Island. Adults begin arriving at colonies from December/January. Females lay a single egg in late December/February that hatches after an incubation period of over 11 weeks in March/April (Walker & Elliott 1999, 2005). The chicks fledge after nine months, in late December to early March in the following year (Robertson 1985, Marchant & Higgins 1990, Brooke 2004; Walker et al. 2017). Mean annual breeding success has been averaged at 63% annually (Walker and Elliott 1999, Walker & Elliott 2002). Antipodean Albatross disperse over the Tasman Sea and South Pacific Ocean (Marchant & Higgins 1990). Juveniles return