Which other distinct species is included in the classification proposal suggesting up to four species within the former *D. exulans* designation?
Answer
*D. gibsoni*
The ongoing re-evaluation of the *Diomedea exulans* complex, driven by genetic and morphological findings, suggests that the traditional single-species view may conceal several distinct evolutionary lineages. The most recognized proposal stemming from this complex suggests recognizing up to four distinct species within what was formerly grouped under the single name. Besides the already mentioned *D. antipodensis* (Snowy Albatross), the proposal explicitly includes recognition for *D. gibsoni* as a separate evolutionary lineage based on differences observed in breeding cycles and plumage characteristics across the Southern Ocean populations.
Related Questions
What is the maximum wingspan stretching capacity noted for the Wandering Albatross (*Diomedea exulans*)?What specialized technique allows the Wandering Albatross to gain energy by exploiting the wind shear gradient?How does the breeding cycle of the Snowy Albatross (*D. antipodensis*) contrast with the classic Wandering Albatross behavior?What life history strategy has natural selection historically favored for the Wandering Albatross in the Southern Ocean?What structural feature of the wing minimizes induced drag for the Wandering Albatross's specialized flight?What mechanism leads to localized gene pools and drives evolutionary divergence in Wandering Albatross populations?What evolutionary constraint arises from the extreme specialization of *D. exulans* for low-energy, long-duration flight?What is the proposed advantage correlated with darker plumage in analyses of the *D. exulans* complex?Which other distinct species is included in the classification proposal suggesting up to four species within the former *D. exulans* designation?What difference in migratory patterns has been tracked between birds banded at the Crozet Islands versus the Kerguelen Islands?