Pachyptila
A genus of prions, seabirds with serrated bills.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
The genus *Pachyptila* belongs to the seabird family Procellariidae, within the order Procellariiformes. Together with the blue petrel, its members make up a group known as prions. These birds are found across the Southern Hemisphere, mostly in the colder, higher latitudes. Three species—the broad-billed prion (*Pachyptila vittata*), the Antarctic prion (*Pachyptila desolata*), and the fairy prion (*Pachyptila turtur*)—also venture into subtropical waters.
German zoologist Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger first described the genus in 1811. The name *Pachyptila* comes from the Ancient Greek words *pakhus* ("dense" or "thick") and *ptilon* ("feather" or "plumage"). In 1840, English naturalist Prideaux John Selby designated the broad-billed prion as the type species. The common name "prion" derives from the Greek *prióni* ("saw"), a reference to the serrated edges of the bird's bill.
Like all Procellariiformes, these birds share certain traits. They have nasal passages attached to the upper bill, called naricorns (though albatross nostrils sit on the sides of the bill). Their bills are split into seven to nine horny plates. They produce a stomach oil made of wax esters and triglycerides, stored in the proventriculus, which can be sprayed from the mouth as a defense or used as a high-energy food for chicks and adults during long flights. A salt gland above the nasal passage helps them excrete excess salt from seawater, releasing a concentrated saline solution through the nose.
Prions are pelagic, rarely coming to land except to breed. They stay in the Southern Hemisphere, nesting on subantarctic islands—except the fairy prion, which breeds on subtropical islands. Their diet consists mainly of zooplankton, which they filter from the water using their upper bill. Some species even hydroplane, skimming the ocean surface with their bill while flying. They breed in colonies near the sea, usually pairing for life. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
The genus includes seven species.
- field
- Ornithology
- known_for
- Seabirds with serrated bills that filter zooplankton
- genus_introduced
- 1811
- introduced_by
- Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger
- type_species
- Broad-billed prion (Pachyptila vittata)
Lore & Background
The genus Pachyptila was introduced in 1811 by the German zoologist Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger. The name combines the Ancient Greek pakhus meaning 'dense' or 'thick' with ptilon meaning 'feather' or 'plumage'. The type species was subsequently designated as the broad-billed prion by English naturalist Prideaux John Selby in 1840. The English name 'prion' comes from the Ancient Greek πριόνι (prióni, 'saw'), in reference to the serrated edges of its bill.
All members of this genus, along with the rest of the Procellariiformes, share certain identifying features. They have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns, and their bills are split into between seven and nine horny plates. The genus produces a stomach oil made up of wax esters and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus, which can be sprayed out of their mouths as a defence against predators and as an energy-rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights. They also have a salt gland that helps free their bodies of salt from seawater, excreting a concentrated saline solution from the nose.
Prions are pelagic and seldom come to land, except to breed. They appear to remain in the Southern Hemisphere, and breed on subantarctic islands except the fairy prion which breeds on subtropical islands. The members of this genus primarily eat zooplankton by filtering water through their upper bill. Some even hydroplane, a technique where they filter food out of the water while flying with their bill in the ocean. They breed colonially near the ocean, usually with the same mate for life, and both sexes help incubate the egg and care for the chick.
Reader's Guide
The genus Pachyptila represents a group of seabirds that are notable for their specialized feeding adaptations and their role in the Southern Hemisphere's marine ecosystems. Their serrated bills, which give them the common name 'prion' (from the Greek for 'saw'), are uniquely adapted for filtering zooplankton from seawater, with some species employing a hydroplaning technique. The genus also exhibits key characteristics of the order Procellariiformes, including tubular nasal passages, a bill composed of horny plates, the production of stomach oil for defense and nutrition, and a salt gland for osmoregulation. These features allow them to thrive in pelagic environments, often in cooler higher latitudes, though three species extend into subtropical regions. Their colonial breeding habits, lifelong pair bonds, and shared parental care are typical of many seabirds. The genus was formally described in 1811 by Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger, and its type species was later designated by Prideaux John Selby. Understanding Pachyptila contributes to knowledge of seabird evolution, adaptation to marine life, and the ecological dynamics of the Southern Ocean.
Did You Know?
- The genus name Pachyptila combines Ancient Greek words meaning 'dense' or 'thick' and 'feather' or 'plumage'.
- The English name 'prion' comes from the Ancient Greek word for 'saw', referring to the serrated edges of the bill.
- Members of Pachyptila can spray stomach oil made of wax esters and triglycerides as a defence against predators.
- Some species hydroplane, filtering food from water while flying with their bill in the ocean.
More in Birds of subantarctic islands 1-24
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