Biometrics of 35 specimens of the Leach's storm- petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa from a wreck in southern Portugal

From a sample of 35 Leach’s storm-petrels Oeanodroma leucorh o a washed ashore on some beaches in southern Portugal during the period 24 December 1996 - 5 January 1997 both external and internal (skeleton and skull) measurements were taken. 45.7% of the specimens could be sexed anatomically: 62,5 % were males. In addition, the feet were checked for abnormalities and the stomach contents were investigated. Of almost all specimens the skull and in most cases also the complete post-cranial skeleton was preserved. The biometrical data were compared with data from the literature and from the measurements taken from a specimen of the Madeiran storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro which was collected during the same period and at the same locality. As for biometry, the wing length of the Leach’s storm-petrels was 1-5 mm longer than the range given in liter ature. To the best of our knowledge, the measurements of the skull and skele tons listed in this paper are the first published for the species. It is concluded that the specimens were from a wreck that also occurred along the (northern) coast of Morocco.