Further information on the Dohrn-Keulemans collection of birds from the Cape Verde Islands

Abstract

Until recently, only one specimen from the series of syntypes of the Cape Verde Cane Warbler Acrocephalus brevipennis, collected by H. Dohrn and J.G. Keulemans in 1865, was known to be still in existence. Another specimen belonging to this series has now been discovered in the collections of the Berlin museum. Some additional information on the Dohrn-Keulemans collection is given, based on listings in the old catalogues of this museum.

FrigatebirdsFregata: impacts of potential taxonomic change on population and conservation status

“…Breeding range : Endemic to Cabo Verde [Cape Verde Is]; once more widespread in the archipelago, then restricted to [Ilhéu de] Baluarte and [Ilhéu de] Curral Velho, off Boa Vista (Hazevoet 1995).…”

“…Breeding population : None currently. 10–12 pairs in 1965 (de Naurois 1969, le Grand et al 1984); no more than five pairs 1988–1992 (Hazevoet 1995). Seven consecutive seasons (1999–2006) of reproductive failure at Baluarte and Curral Velho marked the apparent effective breeding extinction of this taxon, with a total population in 2005–2006 of four to five adult individuals (Lopez-Suarez et al 2007), reducing to two birds (one of each sex) with the male being seen on a nest in 2012 but the female found dead in October 2012 (López Suárez et al .…”

“…Lowe, Rothschild) had no doubt that a distinctive frigatebird occurred at the Cape Verde Is, characterised by larger size (especially bill) and female breast-pattern. However, Hazevoet (1995) could find no diagnostic characters in 15 specimens he examined (almost certainly those at the American Museum of Natural History and Yale Peabody Museum); he also stated “there is considerable overlap, however, in measurement data obtained from different populations”. The basis (data) for this is unclear but is different from that of Hailer et al (2010) who found significant differences in measurements between magnificens and rothschildi.…”