About Phalacrocorax capillatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1849)
The Japanese cormorant (Phalacrocorax capillatus), also known as Temminck's cormorant, is a cormorant native to the east Palearctic. This species is migratory, and individuals have been observed diving to significant depths to find food. Adult Japanese cormorants have a black body with a white throat and cheeks and a partially yellow bill. Juveniles are plainer and browner, which is typical for young cormorants. Japanese cormorants are one of the larger cormorant species, with a size somewhat similar to the great cormorant. They measure 81 to 92 cm (32 to 36 in) in length, have a wingspan of 152 cm (60 in), and may weigh 2.3 to 3.55 kg (5.1 to 7.8 lb). This is one of the cormorant species that has been domesticated by fishermen for a Japanese tradition called ukai, which literally means 'raising a cormorant'. In Japanese, this species is called umiu (ウミウ, meaning sea cormorant). Well-known fishing masters on Japan's Nagara River work with this particular species to catch ayu. This species can be found in China, Japan, North Korea, the Russian Far East, South Korea, and Taiwan.
