It seems that this, the largest Sulid, is the basal species of all, it is quite different in jizz to other boobies, and was formerly much more
widespread. Fossil records show it once occurred over large areas of the Pacific and Indian oceans, Marquesas, Solomons, Aldabra, Mauritius and Vanuatu among others. It is
now endemic to Christmas Island and listed as Endangered. The long wings are suited for long-distance flights, but it does not disperse far. It also has the longest breeding cycle of any
seabird at 300 days, these factors combined with habitat loss make conservation efforts very difficult.
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