Morus serrator (Gray, 1843)

Common Name: 
Australasian Gannet
Distribution: 

Australasian Gannets are found throughout southern and south-eastern Australia, to New Zealand.

Ecological Notes: 

Australasian Gannets soar 10 m or more above the surface of the water. Upon locating a dense shoal of fish, they fold their wings back and dive into the water to catch their prey. Small backward-pointing serrations along the edges of the bill allow gannets to firmly grasp fish that are normally swallowed before a bird reaches the surface. A bird only stays under the water for about ten seconds.

Additional Notes: 

In Australia, the Australasian Gannet breeds in dense colonies on islands off Victoria and Tasmania. The young do not reach breeding maturity until about six or seven years old.

References: 

Atlas of Living Australia at Morus serrator Accessed 29 July 2020.
Birdlife Australia at https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/australasian-gannet Accessed 27 July 2020.