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Birds

Twenty eight bird species breed on Marion Island of which 27 are seabirds. There are no introduced bird species on the island. The Lesser Sheathbill is the only endemic sub-species and the only true terrestrial bird inhabiting the island. The Prince Edward Island (PEI) group is one of the few sub-Antarctic islands that serve as the only breeding platforms fro a variety of seabirds and the PEI are the second most important island group in terms of species numbers. The islands also boast some of the largest breeding colonies in the world as can be seen at the penguin colony at Kildalkey Bay. For King Penguns, Marion Island is the second most important breeding locality in the world consisting of 30% of the global population. Macaroni Penguins aslo rely heavily on the PEI with 7.5% of the world's total population occuring on these islands.

Penguins

King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)
Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome)

Albatross

Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans)
Grey-headed Albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma)
Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross (Thalassarche chlororhynchos)
Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria fusca)
Light-mantled Albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata)

Petrels and Prions

Northern Giant Petrel (Macronectes halli)
Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus)
Kerguelen Petrel (Lugensa brevirostris)
Blue Petrel (Halobaena caerulea)
Greatwinged Petrel (Pterodroma macroptera)
Kerguelen Petrel (Lugensa brevirostris)
Softplumaged Petrel (Pterodroma mollis)
Grey Petrel (Procellaria cinerea)
Whitechinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis)
Blackbellied Storm-petrel (Fregetta tropica)
Greybacked Storm-petrel (Garrodia nereis)
South Georgian Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus)
Common Diving Petrel (Pelecanoides urinatrix)
Salvin's Prion (Pachyptila salvini)
Fairy Prion (Pachyptila turtur)

Others

Sub-antarctic Skua (Catharacta antarctica)
Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
Lesser Sheathbill (Chionis minor marionesis)
Imperial Cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps)
Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata)
Kerguelen Tern (Sterna virgata)
Lesser Sheathbill (Chionis minor marionensis)

Unusual forms

Whitefaced Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)
Albino Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)
Melanistic (black) King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
Isabelline (pale brown) King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
Silver-grey Wandering Albatross (chick) (Diomedea exulans)

Vagrants

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Mammals

The oceans surrounding Marion is rich in seal and whale species. Three indigenous seal species breed on Marion island and a variety of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) can be seen both close inshore and furhter out to sea. Solitary vagrant species have also been documented, however these species visit the island irregularly and for short periods, but do not breed on them. There is only one alien rodent species that breeds on Marion island. Cats were introduced to Marion in 1949 and became a huge conservation problem, luckily steps were put into place and the cats were eradicated and have not been seen on the island since 1991 (see Conservation).

Indigenous

Elephant seal (Mirounga leonina)
Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella)
Sub-Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis)

Alien

House mouse (Mus musculus)

Marine

Killer-Whales (Orcinus orca)
Pilot Whales (Globicephala melaena edwardi)
Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis)
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Vagrant

Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx)
Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli)
South African (Cape) fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus)

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Invertebrates

The invertebrates include 60 mite and 14 springtail species. The remaining arthropods comprise 18 indigenous and 27 introduced (12 naturalized alien species, 15 transient alien species) insect species belonging to 31 families. In addition to the abovementioned taxa there is one indigenous species of terrestrial snail, one introduced slug species, a recently introduced terrestrial isopod ( Porcellio scaber ), several introduced earthworm species, four spider species and 11 tardigrades.

Insects

INDIGENOUS

Order: Coleoptera (Beetles)

Family: Curculionidae

Bothrometopus elongatus (Jeannel) - Weevil
B. parvulus (C.O. Waterhouse) - Weevil
B. randi Jeannel - Weevil
Ectemnorhinus marioni Jeannel - Weevil
E. similis Waterhouse - Weevil
Palirhoeus eatoni (C.O. Waterhouse) - Weevil

Family: Staphylinidae

Halmaeusa atriceps (C.O. Waterhouse) - Rove Beetle

Family: Hydraenidae

Meropathus chuni Enderlein - Hydraenid Beetle

 

Order: Diptera (Flies)

Family: Helcomyzidae

Paractora dreuxi mirabilis Séguy - Large flightless kelp-fly

Family: Tethinidae

Apetaenus litoralis Eaton - Small flightless kelp-fly
Listriomastax litorea Enderlein - Small kelp-fly

Family: Sciaridae

Lycoriella aubertii Séguy - Fungus gnat

Family: Chironomidae

Telmatogeton amphibius (Eaton) - Flightless midge

 

Order: Lepidoptera (Moths and Butterflies)

Family: Tineidae

Pringleophaga marioni Viette - Marion flightless moth
P. kerguelensis Enderlein - Flightless moth

Family: Yponomeutidae

Embryonopsis halticella Eaton - Tussock grass moth

 

Order: Hymenoptera (Wasps and Ants)

Family: Eucoilidae

Kleidotoma icarus (Quinlan) - Parasitic wasp

 

Order: Psocoptera (Booklice, Barklice and Psocids)

Family: Elipsocidae

Antarctopsocus jeanneli Badonnel - Psocid

 

NATURALIZED ALIENS

Order: Thysanoptera (Thrips)

Family: Thripidae

Apterothrips apteris Daniel - Thrip

 

Order: Diptera (Flies)

Family: Calliphoridae

Calliphora vicina Robineau Desvoidy - Blow-fly

Family: Fanniidae

Fannia canicularis (Linnaeus) - Lesser house fly

Family: Drosophilidae

Scaptomyza sp. Hardy - Vinegar fly

Family: Psychodidae

Psychoda parthenogenetica Tonnoir - Moth fly (Bathroom fly)

Family: Chironomidae

Limnophyes minimus Meigen - Midge

 

Order: Lepidoptera (Moths and Butterflies)

Family: Yponomeutidae

Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) - Diamond-backed moth

Family: Noctuidae

Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) - Cutworm (Noctuid moth)

Family: Nymphalidae

Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus) - Painted Lady

 

Order: Hemiptera (Bugs, Aphids, etc)

Family: Aphididae (Aphids)

Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) - Potato aphid
Myzus ascalonicus (Doncaster) - Aphid
Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) - Oat aphid

 

TRANSIENT ALIEN (VAGRANT) INSECTS RECORDED AT MARION ISLAND

* = Only a single dead specimen found
# = Only a single live specimen found (possibly has occurred before, but has not been recorded)

Order: Coleoptera (Beetles)

Family: Anobiidae

Anobiidae sp. - Shot hole borer

Family: Dermestidae

Dermestidae sp.

Family: Chrysomelidae

Unidentified species

 

Order: Hemiptera (Bugsm, Aphids, etc)

Family: Scutelleridae

Cryptacrus comes Fabricius # - Shield-backed bug

 

Order: Diptera (Flies)

Family: Lonchaeidae

Lamprolonchaea smaragdi (Walker) #

Family: Anthomyiidae

Anthomyiidae sp. #

 

Order: Lepidoptera (Moths and Butterflies)

Family: Noctuidae

Chrysodeixis acuta Walker - Noctuid Moth
Cosmophila sabulifera Gueneé - Noctuid Moth
Spodoptera exigua Hübner - Noctuid Moth
Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermüller) - Cutworm (Lawn caterpillar)
Trichoplusia orichalcea (Fabricius) - Cereal moth
Helicoverpa armigera Hübner - American bollworm

Family: Pyralidae

Nomophila sp. # - Moth

 

Order: Hymenoptera (Wasps and Ants)

Family: Formicidae

Lepisiota capensis (Mayr)* - Ant

 

Order: Blattodea (Cockroaches)

Family: Blatellidae

Blatella germanica L. - German cockroach

 

Spiders (Araneae)

There are four naturalized alien spider species ( Myro kerguelensis, Myro paucispinosus, Prinerigone vagans and Porrhomma antarctica ) on Marion Island. The two Myro differ in appearance: M. paucipinosus is the larger of the two (10-12mm), darker and hairier than M. kerguelensis, which has a yellowish tinge and a distinct chevron pattern on the abdomen. They also differ in their geographic locations; M. kerguelensis inhabits rocky areas embedded in sparse vegetation at lower altitudes (97m) while M. paucispinosus prefers higher altitudes (>700m.a.s.l) which are often covered in ice with very little or no vegetation. Prinerigone vagans is abundant in mires where they spin webs on vegetation in the mires that trap mostly springtails which constitutes one of their diets. The abundance and distribution of these spiders remain largely unknown and of all the four spider species, P. vagans has been singled out as the only species to have arrived on the island by wind and ocean currents (a conclusion arrived at by observing its characteristic ballooning habits). It is thought that human introduction may have been responsible for the establishment of the remaining three species, but with very little information available on these spiders, the exact means of their introduction remains unclear.

Mites (Acari)

Mites are considere ot be the most common species to exist on the island with > 60 species recorded. Mites can be found in all habitats on the isalnd from the marine zone to the highest peaks. The most common of the mites are those found in the genera Podacarus and Halozetes.

Slugs and snails (Mollusca)

There is only one terrestrial snail (Notodiscus hookeri) that occurs at the PEI. This snail is indigenous to the islands and is most common in fellfield areas under stones. The only slug on the island, Deroceras caruanae, is introduced and is common in most vegetation communities. The spread of this slug around the island has been linked to helicopter activity where its habits of hiding under steel and plastic drums suggest that it was probably slung to the huts around the island while it clung to the cargo.

Earthworms (Annelida) and Roundworms (Nematoda)

Although earthworms are extremely common in both the soils from Marion and Prince Edward Islands they are poorly known. There are large individuals thought to be Microscolex kerguelarum as well as smaller species from the earthworm family Enchytraeidae. There are many species of roundworm but these hsve not been well studied.

 

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