Evidence for feeding on seabirds by the Southern Ocean ommastrephid squid Todarodes filippovae

A unique and rare event of consumption of a seabird (aviphagy) was recorded for a Southern Ocean squid in Australian waters. Petrel remains were identified in the stomach contents of a large (518 mm Mantle Length, 3.4 kg) female ommastrephid squid, Todarodes filippovae (Adam 1975) captured off the southern coast of Tasmania, Australia. The remains were identified as to being from either a fairy prion Pachyptila turtur or white-faced storm petrel Pelagodroma marina. This unique observation expands the evidence for aviphagy recorded in other cephalopods to now include squid.