Two cases of micromelia in Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor)

Congenital musculoskeletal disorders are rare in birds and in this paper we present two cases of unilateral micromelia in wild juvenile little penguins (Eudyptula minor). The little, blue or fairy penguin (Eudyptula minor) is the world's smallest penguin species and is restricted in range to the warmer waters along coastal southern Australia and New Zealand. The breeding colonies at Penguin and Garden Islands are the species most northerly breeding sites and are in close proximity to major cities, industrial ports and a large naval base located on Garden Island. A small breeding colony on the mainland in Sydney harbour is listed as endangered due to its proximity to Australia's biggest city and busiest port. These urban populations are subject to increasing human interference which justifies monitoring of the major causes of mortality for the species