Cereopsis novaehollandiae
SUBFAMILY
Anserinae
TAXONOMY
Cereopsis n. hollandiae Latham, 1801, New South Wales = islands
of Bass Strait. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Cereopsis goose; French: Cйrйopse cendrйe; German:
Hьhnergans; Spanish: Ganso Cenizo.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
29.5–39.4 in (75–100 cm); 7–14 lb (3.17–6.80 kg). Pale gray,
with distinctive dark spots on wings.
DISTRIBUTION
Islands off southern Australia from Recherche Archipelago to
Tasmania.
HABITAT
Scrub and grassy areas near coast; edges of lakes and lagoons.
BEHAVIOR
Territorial or colonial during the breeding season, but disperse
after breeding season. Perform triumph ceremonies.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds on grasses, seeds of grasses, sedges, and leaves by grazing.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Perennially monogamous. Breeds in southern winter May–Jun.
Lays 3–6 eggs into shallow ground nest; incubation c. 34–37
days; fledging 70–76 days.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. Populations stabile due to favorable conditions
on agricultural lands and a stop of intensive hunting.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Limited hunting allowed in Tasmania.
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