| Amsterdam Duck | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Subfamily: | Anatinae |
| Genus: | Anas |
| Species: | A. marecula |
| Binomial name | |
| Anas marecula Olson & Jouventin, 1996 |
|
The Amsterdam Duck or Amsterdam Island Duck (Anas marecula) was a species of waterfowl in the Anatidae family. It was endemic to Île Amsterdam (Amsterdam Island), French Southern Territories[1]. This flightless species is only known from bones and was presumably driven to extinction by whalers visiting the island.[1]. During his visit to neighbouring Île Saint-Paul (St. Paul Island) on 2 February 1793, explorer John Barrow mentioned the presence of "a small brown duck, not much larger than a thrush" that was "the favourite food of the five sealers living on the island".[2][3] This may be the same or a similar species.[1]