SOLITARY ISLANDS
UNDERWATER
RESEARCH GROUP, INC.

Species Index

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Sula dactylatra
(Lesson, 1831)

Common Name: Masked Booby

Distribution: The Masked Booby ranges across tropical oceans between the 30oN and 30oS. Off the Western Australian coastline it is found as far south as Dampier Arch, whilst in the Pacific, it ranges from Brisbane eastwards, with individuals recorded as far south as VIC and SA.

Ecological Notes: Fish, particularly flying fish, form the bulk of its diet, along with cephalopods.

Additional Notes: This species is a spectacular diver, plunging vertically or near-vertically from heights of anywhere from 12 to 100 m above the water into the ocean at high speed, to depths of up to 3 m.

References: eBird Australia at https://ebird.org/species/masboo Accessed 13 August 2023.

Wikipedia. “Masked Booby.” Last modified 20 June 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masked_booby