Marianas Island Megapode

Taxobox
name = Marianas Island Megapode
status = EN
regnum = Animalia


image_width =
image_caption = Marianas Island Megapode
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Galliformes
familia = Megapodiidae
genus = "Megapodius"
species = "M. laperouse laperouse"
binomial = "Megapodius laperouse laperouse"
binomial_authority = Gaimard, 1823

The Marianas Island Megapode or Megapodius laperouse laperouse, is a subspecies of the Micronesian Megapode. It is a very rare and localized bird that is in danger of disappearing.

Overview

No birds were found by collection groups from the US Naval medical units on the islands of Guam, Rota, Saipan or Tianian. They have been thought to be extripated on these islands since the 1950s but were never very common even before human colonization. The Marianas Island Megapode preferred low, outlying islands. Dogs, cats, pigs and rats are all believed to have led to the downfall of this species throughout most of the islands. Along with increased predation, during the Japanese take over of the islands of Saipan and Tinian, almost both of the entire islands sureface was burnt away and was replaced by large farms of sugar cane. It seems that the only way for the species to be safe is to protect a few small islands and release a small population of megapodes there, that way a safe population is secured. On the larger and higher islands an increase of people and introduced pests shall soone or later destrory even populations on larger islands. The birds are still to be found on Marianas Island, but has been previously recorded on the islands of Asuncion, Agrihan, Pagan, Agiguan, Almagan, and are extinct on Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam. These birds are found in small groups in thickets and the scrublands founf on low tropical islands in the region, however they are also found more inland on the hills and even on the mountain of the island. In locations like these, they make large mounds of debreis and the lay their eggs inside of it. The Marianas Island Megapode is a dark bird about the size of a small hen, it is seen scurrying around in the underbrush. The back and belly is black, the wings, tail and rump are brown, with a small not noticeable gray crest on its head. The bill is yellow or orangewith the legs and feet are yellow and black toes. The chick has the back and head brown. The wing and lower back is barred and is paler in color. The face, throat and belly are a pale yellow and the wings are colored with a tint of rufous. The birds are known creep around in the shadows of small trees and is not capable of flying for long distances. However it is an acclaimed runner and would be very hard to catch. During breeding season, just after the southeast monsoon comes in the females make there mounds, however it is known that some individual females will lay their eggs togeather in the same mound. However the females do not use the same mound more than once and are swapped with different females. When the eggs hatch after one to two months later, the chicks will feed on only grass shots and insects. When they are disturbed they create a large commotion.

References

* Greenway, JR., James Cowan. Extinct and Vanishing Birds. 2. New York City: Dover Pubilcataions, 1967.