Saturday, May 19, 2012

>Anas andinum (Andean Teal)

Andean Teal


Andean Teal
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Anseriformes
Family:Anatidae
Subfamily:Anatinae
Genus:Anas
Species:A. andium
Binomial name
Anas andium
Sclater and Salvin, 1873
Subspecies
2, see text
Synonyms
Anas flavirostris andium
The Andean Teal (Anas andium) is a South American species of duck. Like other teals, it belongs to the diverse genus Anas; more precisely it is one of the "true" teals of subgenus Nettion. It restricted to the Andean highlands of ColombiaVenezuela, and Ecuador. It inhabits freshwater wetlands, preferring palustrine habitat to rivers. It is not considered threatened by the IUCN.


Taxonomy

Mitochondrial DNA sequence data is most similar to that of the very different-looking Green-winged Teal. Apart from the mystifying relationship with the red-and-green-headed teals, it altogether most resembles the Indian Ocean radiation of teals.
Traditionally, there are 2 subspecies:
  • Mérida Teal, Anas andium altipetens (Conover, 1941) – highlands of north-west Venezuela and adjacent parts of Colombia.
  • nominate, Anas andium andium (Sclater & Salvin, 1873) - highlands of Colombia and Ecuador.
This species and the Yellow-billed Teal are sometimes considered conspecific under the name Speckled Teal (A. flavirostris), but increasingly taxonomists treat the two as distinct species. When split, the scientific name A. flavirostris is restricted to the Yellow-billed Teal.

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