16. Kermadec Islands
Map ID Number: 16
Location: 3 island groups along the Kermadec ridge
Approximate area: 23,565km2
Description of area:
The subtropical Kermadec Islands are clustered in 3 groups along the Kermadec Ridge and span approximately 150 nautical miles from north to south.
Biological attributes:
Seven petrels breed on the Kermadec Islands, 2 of which are endemic. Many petrels and shearwaters that breed in the Kermadecs also breed elsewhere across similar latitudes of all southern oceans.
Other seabirds found on the islands include inshore seabirds, such as terns, noddies, and boobies, and transient waders.
Migrating large whales are found over the deep waters of the Kermadec Trench seasonally. Also, beaked whales have been reported from the area, as have striped dolphins (Stenella caeruloalba).
A small resident population of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) lives around the main islands.
Criteria applied:
Endemism (birds).
Status and management:
The two main islands of the Kermadecs are highly modified by pests.
State of information:
Poor
References and further reading:
Veitch et al. (in press).