Max and Others,
There was an extensive discussion of the meaning of "endemic" on the
corresponding US bird chat line last year, if I remember correctly,
initiated by me. First, endemic is not a scientific term, particularly
when we apply it to political entities such as countries. It means
confined to that area, and a fortiori, not breeding outside that area. The
question arose: if one specimen of a bird restrcited to Mexico flew across
the Rio Grande for 5 minutes, and then flew back, would this mean the bird
was no longer a Mexican endemic. It was agreed that this would be silly.
It was also agreed that birds introduced into other areas did not affect
the endemic status of wild birds. Thus Reeve's Pheasant is still a Chinese
endemic, despite the existance of introduced breeding birds in Europe.
However, regular occurrence outside an area, even if it involves ony small
numbers of birds, disqualifies a species from being an endemic.
John
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>Delivered-To:
>From: "Max O'Sullivan" <>
>To: "birding-aus" <>
>Subject: [BIRDING-AUS] Re: Australian endemic list.
>Date: Thu, 23 Nov 2000 08:27:27 +1000
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> "" when applied to (Australian) bird species? I have read of several
>variations recently and am confused - found only in that country, breeds
>only in that country, originally (when?) found only in that country!!
>Also, where do I locate the presently accepted list of Australian
>endemics? "" of Australian species - people other than Gould, like
>Latham, Vieillot, Temminck et al?
John Penhallurick
Associate Professor John M. Penhallurick<>
Canberra, Australia
Phone BH( 61 2) 6201 2346 AH (61 2) 62585428
FAX (61 2) 6258 0426
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