Finsch's duck
| Finsch's duck | |
|---|---|
| |
| Holotypebones | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Genus: | Chenonetta |
| Species: | †C. finschi
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| Binomial name | |
| †Chenonetta finschi (van Beneden,1875)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Euryanas finschiOliver,1930 | |
Finsch's duck(Chenonetta finschi) (Māori:Manutahora)[3]was a large terrestrial species ofduckformerlyendemictoNew Zealand.[4]The species was possibly once the most common duck in New Zealand, a supposition based on the frequency of itsfossilsin bone deposits.
Taxonomy
[edit]Finsch's duck was scientifically described asAnas finschiin 1876 byPierre-Joseph van Beneden.The specific epithetfinschiand the common name honours ornithologistOtto Finsch,who first recognised it as a distinct species.[5]
The species was originally considered to be in its owngenus,Euryanas,but is now known to be closely related to themaned duckand recently derived from that species.[6]
Description
[edit]
The Finsch's duck was much larger than the maned duck, probably weighing twice as much (around 1–2 kg (2.2–4.4 lb)) and having larger legs. The wings were much reduced however, and it seems that flight was lost relatively quickly after the species arrived in New Zealand.[6]
Behaviour and ecology
[edit]Little is known about the biology of the species, but its remains have been found widely in New Zealand and it does not seem to have been tied to water like many other duck species.[6]
This species was present inforests,shrublandsand temperategrasslands.[7]
It is likely that Finsch’s duck bred in hollows, tree trunk or fallen logs because these are the preferred breeding locations of the Australian wood duck, its nearest relative.
Finsch’s duck was most likely a grazer and browser of vegetation, probably mixed with fallen fruit and some invertebrates.[8]
Extinction
[edit]The species is thought to have become extinct due to humanhuntingand predation byintroduced species,particularly rats. Like many large flightless New Zealand birds its remains have been found inMāorimiddens.Radiocarbon datingputs the youngest bones of the species as recently as the 15th −17th centuries, and one account of a large flightless goose killed inŌpōtikisuggests the species might have survived until 1870.[9]
References
[edit]- ^BirdLife International (2017)."Chenonetta finschi".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2017:e.T62239833A119205634.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T62239833A119205634.en.Retrieved11 November2021.
- ^"Chenonetta finschi.NZTCS ".nztcs.org.nz.Retrieved5 April2023.
- ^"Finsch's duck | Manutahora".New Zealand Birds Online.RetrievedNovember 26,2023.
- ^Tennyson, Alan J. D. (2006).Extinct birds of New Zealand.Paul Martinson. Wellington, N.Z.: Te Papa Press. p. 52.ISBN978-0-909010-21-8.OCLC80016906.
- ^van Beneden, P. J. (1876)."A new fossil bird, Anas finschi, from the Earnscleugh Caves, Otago, New Zealand".Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute.9.New Zealand Institute: 599–602.Retrieved6 October2023.
- ^abcWorthy, Trevor H., Olson, Storrs L. (2002)."Relationships, adaptations, and habits of the extinct duck 'Euryanas' finschi"(PDF).Notornis.49(1): 1–17. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 19 October 2007.
{{cite journal}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^"Canard de Finsch".aerien.ch.
- ^"Finsch's duck".nzbirdsonline.
- ^Tennyson, A; Martinson, P. (2006).Extinct Birds of New Zealand.Wellington: Te Papa Press.ISBN978-0-909010-21-8.
Further reading
[edit]- Tennyson, A. & Martinson, P. (2006)Extinct Birds of New ZealandTe Papa Press,WellingtonISBN978-0-909010-21-8
- Finsch's Duck. Chenonetta finschi.by Paul Martinson. Artwork produced for the bookExtinct Birds of New Zealand,by Alan Tennyson, Te Papa Press, Wellington, 2006
