Notes on a Moseley's Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome moseleyi Captured at Sea off North-western Tasmania in 1959

Abstract

A subadult Moseley's Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes was captured at sea off north-western Tasmania in February 1959 and taken alive to the Melbourne Zoo, where it died. Identification of the penguin is now confirmed by the author Eudyptes chrysocome moseleyi Mathews and Iredale 1921, from the skin, B7391, in the collection of Museum Victoria (previously National Museum of Victoria). This particular specimen was overlooked in the preparation of the Rockhopper Penguin entry in Marchant & Higgins (1990), not being mentioned in the summary for Tasmania. It was also overlooked by Woehler (1992) and should therefore be regarded as an addition to the list that he published of 'vagrant' Eudyptes penguins occurring in Tasmania. It almost certainly represents one, if not the very first, subadult specimens of E.c. moseleyi found in south-eastern Australian waters.