Cephalopod remains in regurgitations of the wandering albatross diomedea exulans L. at south georgia

Regurgitations of the chicks of wandering albatrosses near their nests included 762 upper beaks (mandibles) and 532 lower beaks of cephalopods. Twenty-five species of cephalopod are present in the diet. Analysis of the complete samples shows the three most important species in the diet to be Kondakovia longimana (40.0% by number), Taonius pavo (16.9%) and Histioteuthis(?) eltaninae (8.7%). While the large Taningia danae only comprises 1.3% by number, it may contribute over 5% by weight. The species and size ranges of beaks are compared with those occurring in the stomachs of sperm whales killed by whalers in the Southern Hemisphere (Clarke, 1980). The ten complete samples contain an average of 44 beaks which probably represents about 200 days' accumulation. Both Antarctic and warm-water cephalopods are present in the diet. These albatrosses possibly scavenge some of thei food from vomit of sperm whales