White-winged Wood Duck

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iWhite-winged Wood Duck

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Genus:	Cairina (but see text)
Species:	C. scutulata

Binomial name

Cairina scutulata
Müller, 1842

The White-winged Wood Duck, Cairina scutulata is a species of duck, usually placed in the genus Cairina and allied with the dabbling ducks.

However, mtDNA cytochrome b and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 sequence analysis (Johnson & Sorenson, 1999) and the biogeographical pattern of distribution indicate that the anatomical similarity to the Muscovy Duck is deceiving. Thus, this species might more appropriately be placed in a monotypic genus, as Asarcornis scutulata, which appears to be unrelated to the Muscovy Duck but closer to the diving ducks.

Historically, the White-winged Wood Duck was widely distributed from north-east India and Bangladesh, through South East Asia to Java and Sumatra. However, in 2002 it had a population of only 800, with about 200 in Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, 150 on Sumatra, notably in Way Kambas National Park and 450 in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Due to ongoing habitat lost, small population size and hunted for eggs, pets and food, the White-winged Duck is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES.

Illustration from Hume and Marshall's Gamebirds of India, Burmah and Ceylon.

[edit] References

BirdLife International (2006). Cairina scutulata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is endangered, and the criteria used

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