Friday, May 18, 2012

>Anas albogularis (Andaman Teal)

Andaman Teal

Andaman Teal
Andaman Teal (foreground)
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Anseriformes
Family:Anatidae
Subfamily:Anatinae
Genus:Anas
Species:A. albogularis
Binomial name
Anas albogularis
(Hume, 1873)
Synonyms
  • Mareca albogularis
  • Nettium albigulare
  • Nettion albigulare
The Andaman Teal (Anas albogularis) is a species of small duck found in the Andaman Islands of India. The species was considered as a subspecies of the Sunda Teal.


Description

The species is dark brown with buffy markings. The face and throat are pale with a white ring around the eye. The bill is bluish grey and the iris is red.
They are found in inland pools as well as mangroves and lagoons. They feed at night in rice fields. The breeding season is July to October and nests in reed patches. The nest is made of grass and about nine eggs forms the clutch. They were formerly considered to breed in tree hollows but recent studies found no evidence. They feed mainly on molluscs and arthropods. A population estimate of 500 to 600 was made in a survey conducted in 1995-98




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