Megapodius laperouse

IUCN

Alias：Megapodius laperouse，Micronesian Scrubfowl

Basic Information

Scientific classification

name：Megapodius laperouse
Aliases：Megapodius laperouse，Micronesian Scrubfowl
Outline：Landfowl
Family：P.Genus P.family P.Genus

Vital signs

length：About 30 cm
Weight：275-455g
lifetime：No textual research information is available

Feature

It is the only species of Megapod that uses volcanic heat to hatch its eggs

Details

The Micronesian Scrubfowl (Megapodius laperouse) is a large and medium-sized bird with two subspecies.

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Micronesian megapods are omnivorous and eat a wide variety of foods on the forest floor. Shy and mysterious, but can perch in small trees and fly short distances, not long distances. Good long race, fast speed is difficult to catch up.

Micronian Megapods are the only species of megapods that use volcanic heat to hatch their eggs. During the breeding season, just after the southeast monsoon arrives, the females accumulate large piles of debris in which they place their eggs. Some females keep their eggs in the same mound. However, females will generally use the same mound more than once and swap it with different females. The eggs will hatch into young birds after 1-2 months, and the birds will feed on grass buds and insects after coming out of their shells.

By 2000, it was estimated that only 2,000-2,500 Micronesian megapods survived. It is found on undisturbed islands in Palau and the Northern Mariana Islands. A small number of Micronesian megapods have been reported to have returned to Saipan since 2010.

Listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2016 Red List of Threatened Species ver 3.1 - Endangered (EN).

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Location

The Micronesian megapode still survives on the Mariana Islands, and is often found in the lowlands and undergrowth of outlying islands in the region. On the larger islands that survive, it can be found in higher areas of the interior. The species has been recorded on the islands of Asuncion, Agrihan, Pagan, Aguijan and Alamagan. There are still pockets of residual populations on Saipan and Tinian, as well as on some small islands where the birds live, but they are extinct on Rota.
It is found in Palau, the Northern Mariana Islands (United States territory), and Guam (United States territory).
The habitat is dense forest.

Form

The Micronesian megapod is a large and medium-sized bird, 30 cm long and 275-455 g in weight. The appearance of the feathers is mostly dark brown black. Its head is paler than its body plumage, with a short pale grey crest, a yellow beak, bare red cheeks, and large dark yellow legs and feet.