Australian Wood Duck
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| iAustralian Wood Duck | ||||||||||||||
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| Chenonetta jubata (Latham, 1802) |
The Australian Wood Duck or Maned Duck, Chenonetta jubata, is a dabbling duck found throughout much of Australia. It is the only living species in the genus Chenonetta. Traditionally placed in the Anatinae (dabbling duck) subfamily, it might actually belong to the Tadorninae (shelduck) subfamily (Sraml et al. 1996); possibly, the Ringed Teal is its closest living relative (Johnson & Sorenson 1999).
Its habitat is lightly wooded swamps and marshes. This abundant duck nests in a tree hole laying 8-12 eggs.
The male is grey with a dark brown head and mottled breast. The female has white stripes above and below the eye and mottled underparts. Both sexes have grey wings with black primaries and a white speculum.
This 45-51cm duck looks like a small goose, and feeds mostly by grazing. It rarely swims.
The flightless New Zealand species Chenonetta finschi (Finsch's Duck) which was formerly believed to constitute a monotypic genus (Euryanas) has been determined to belong to Chenonetta (Worthy & Olson 2002). It became extinct before scientists could properly survey the New Zealand avifauna, but possibly as late as 1870[citation needed].
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Chenonetta jubata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Johnson, Kevin P. & Sorenson, Michael D. (1999): Phylogeny and biogeography of dabbling ducks (genus Anas): a comparison of molecular and morphological evidence. Auk 116(3): 792–805. PDF fulltext
- Madge, Steve & Burn, Hilary (1987): Wildfowl : an identification guide to the ducks, geese and swans of the world. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-3999-7
- Sraml, M.; Christidis, L.; Easteal, S.; Horn, P. & Collet, C. (1996): Molecular Relationships Within Australasian Waterfowl (Anseriformes). Australian Journal of Zoology 44(1): 47-58. DOI:10.1071/ZO9960047 (HTML abstract)
- Worthy, Trevor H. & Olson, Storrs L. (2002): Relationships, adaptations, and habits of the extinct duck 'Euryanas' finschi. Notornis 49(1): 1–17. PDF fulltext
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