Provisional Japanese Common Names of Reclassified 24 Albatross Species

Recently albatrosses have been reclassified from the previously recognized 14 species to 24 species based on mitochondrial DNA sequences (Robertson & Nunn 1998). The new 24 species are composed of 4 phylogenetic groups-North Pacific Albatrosses (Phoebastria), the Great Albatrosses (Diomedea), the Sooty Albatrosses (Phoebetria), and the Southern Mollymawks (Thalassarche). We recommend provisional Japanese common names till final verification of albatross taxonomy is authorized.