Meller's Duck
Encyclopedia
Meller's Duck is a species
of the dabbling duck genus
Anas. It is endemic to eastern Madagascar
. Although a population was established on Mauritius
in the mid-18th century, this is on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss and competition by feral domestic ducks. The species name of this species is after the botanist Charles James Meller, and its generic name is from the Ancient Greek
for a duck.
. At 55–65 cm (21.7–25.6 in), it averages slightly larger than a Mallard and is at the top size for the Anas
genus. However, as opposed to most mallard relatives, they lack a supercilium
. The speculum feathers
are green as in some of its relatives, but unlike in these, it is bordered white as in the Mallard. Its body is dark brown with narrow paler fringes to feathers on upper parts and wider fringes on lower parts. Its bill is pale grey, with dark patches at the base, and is larger than normal. Its feet and legs are orange.
—, they are fiercely territorial during the breeding season; furthermore, pairs remain mated until the young are independent.
by the IUCN Red List
. The Lac Alaotra wetlands, where historically the largest number of these birds was to be found, have suffered habitat
destruction on a large scale in the latter half of the 20th century, and local waterbird populations have declined dramatically. The Madagascar Pochard
was rediscovered in 2006, though not in the Lac Alaotra area.
The conservation
of this species was long hampered by its—entirely erroneous, see below—dismissal as a variant of the Mallard which deserved no special interest. Due to its drab plumage and territorial habits, this species is not very popular among aviculturalists, although it reproduces readily in captivity like most ducks if enough space and good habitat are provided. Although a captive breeding program exists (part of the European Endangered Species Programme
), the species is not very often kept in zoo
s either; it can be more frequently seen in Europe
, such as in EEP members Cologne, Edinburgh
, Jersey, and Zürich Zoos.
Nowadays, it is regarded as one of the most distinct species in the mallard group, based on behavioural and mtDNA D-loop
sequence
comparisons. Its closest relatives is apparently the Yellow-billed Duck
, another early divergence of the mallard clade
, in which these species and the African Black Duck
are basal
, but the exact relationships of Meller's and the Yellow-billed Ducks to that species are fairly obscure. (The dates in these studies are probably far too recent in the face of the Early Pleistocene fossil
record of mallards and the crude methodology used to arrive at the estimate.)
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of the dabbling duck genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Anas. It is endemic to eastern Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. Although a population was established on Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
in the mid-18th century, this is on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss and competition by feral domestic ducks. The species name of this species is after the botanist Charles James Meller, and its generic name is from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
for a duck.
Description
The Meller's Duck resembles a large female MallardMallard
The Mallard , or Wild Duck , is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia....
. At 55–65 cm (21.7–25.6 in), it averages slightly larger than a Mallard and is at the top size for the Anas
Anas
Anas is a genus of dabbling ducks. It includes mallards, wigeons, teals, pintails and shovelers in a number of subgenera. Some authorities prefer to elevate the subgenera to genus rank...
genus. However, as opposed to most mallard relatives, they lack a supercilium
Supercilium
The supercilium is a plumage feature found on the heads of some bird species. It is a stripe which runs from the base of the bird's beak above its eye, finishing somewhere towards the rear of the bird's head. Also known as an "eyebrow", it is distinct from the eyestripe, which is a line which runs...
. The speculum feathers
Speculum feathers
The speculum is a patch, often distinctly coloured, on the inner remiges of some birds.Examples of the colour of the speculum in a number of ducks are:* Common Teal and Green-winged Teal: Iridescent green edged with buff....
are green as in some of its relatives, but unlike in these, it is bordered white as in the Mallard. Its body is dark brown with narrow paler fringes to feathers on upper parts and wider fringes on lower parts. Its bill is pale grey, with dark patches at the base, and is larger than normal. Its feet and legs are orange.
Behaviour
Meller's Duck breeds apparently during most of the year except May-June on Madagascar, dependent on local conditions; the Mauritian population has been recorded to breed in October and November. Unlike most of their closer relatives—with the exception of the African Black DuckAfrican Black Duck
The African Black Duck is a species of duck of the genus Anas. It is genetically closest to the mallard group , but shows some peculiarities in its behavior and plumage; it is accordingly placed in the subgenus Melananas pending further research.The African Black Duck is an...
—, they are fiercely territorial during the breeding season; furthermore, pairs remain mated until the young are independent.
Conservation
This species is listed as an endangered speciesEndangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
by the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
. The Lac Alaotra wetlands, where historically the largest number of these birds was to be found, have suffered habitat
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
destruction on a large scale in the latter half of the 20th century, and local waterbird populations have declined dramatically. The Madagascar Pochard
Madagascar Pochard
The Madagascar Pochard is an extremely rare diving duck of the genus Aythya, previously thought extinct. Prior to a rediscovery in 2006, the last confirmed sighting of the species was at Lake Alaotra on the Central Plateau of Madagascar in 1991...
was rediscovered in 2006, though not in the Lac Alaotra area.
The conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
of this species was long hampered by its—entirely erroneous, see below—dismissal as a variant of the Mallard which deserved no special interest. Due to its drab plumage and territorial habits, this species is not very popular among aviculturalists, although it reproduces readily in captivity like most ducks if enough space and good habitat are provided. Although a captive breeding program exists (part of the European Endangered Species Programme
European Endangered Species Programme
The European Endangered Species Programme or EEP is the most intensive type of population management for a species kept in European Association of Zoos and Aquaria zoos...
), the species is not very often kept in zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
s either; it can be more frequently seen in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, such as in EEP members Cologne, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo, formally the Scottish National Zoological Park, is a non-profit zoological park located in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland...
, Jersey, and Zürich Zoos.
Relations
Due to the outward similarity of Meller's Duck to the female Mallard, it was commonly placed close to that species. Based on records of quasi-forced hybridization under unnatural conditions, it was even proposed to be a mere color morph of the Mallard.Nowadays, it is regarded as one of the most distinct species in the mallard group, based on behavioural and mtDNA D-loop
D-loop
In molecular biology, a displacement loop or D-loop is a DNA structure where the two strands of a double-stranded DNA molecule are separated for a stretch and held apart by a third strand of DNA. The third strand has a base sequence which is complementary to one of the main strands and pairs with...
sequence
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
comparisons. Its closest relatives is apparently the Yellow-billed Duck
Yellow-billed Duck
The Yellow-billed Duck, Anas undulata, is a 51–58 cm long dabbling duck which is an abundant resident breeder in southern and eastern Africa.This duck is not migratory, but will wander in the dry season to find suitable waters...
, another early divergence of the mallard clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
, in which these species and the African Black Duck
African Black Duck
The African Black Duck is a species of duck of the genus Anas. It is genetically closest to the mallard group , but shows some peculiarities in its behavior and plumage; it is accordingly placed in the subgenus Melananas pending further research.The African Black Duck is an...
are basal
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, a basal clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade; it appears at the base of a cladogram.A basal group forms an outgroup to the rest of the clade, such as in the following example:...
, but the exact relationships of Meller's and the Yellow-billed Ducks to that species are fairly obscure. (The dates in these studies are probably far too recent in the face of the Early Pleistocene fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
record of mallards and the crude methodology used to arrive at the estimate.)
Works cited
Database entry includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is endangered, and the criteria used- Johnsgard, P. A. (1965) Handbook of waterfowl behaviour. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. ISBN 0801402077
- 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
- Young, H. Glyn (1999) "Comparative study of the courtship displays of Meller's Duck Anas melleri, Yellowbilled Duck A. undulata and Northern Mallard A. platyrhynchos," Ostrich 70:117-122.
- Young, H. Glyn & Rhymer, Judith M. (1998) "Meller's duck: A threatened species receives recognition at last," Biodiversity and Conservation 7:1313-1323.