Animalia Life

Aythya innotata
SUBFAMILY
Anatinae
TAXONOMY
Nyroca innotata Salvadori, 1894, Madagascar. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Madagascan white-eye; French: Fuligule de Madagascar; German: Madagascarmoorente; Spanish: Porrуn Malgache.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
17.7–22.1 in (45–56 cm). Brown duck with white belly.
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs only in and around Lake Aloatra in eastern Madagascar.
HABITAT
Freshwater wetlands with a mixture of open water and vegetation islands.
BEHAVIOR
Not known.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Mostly dives for aquatic invertebrates and seeds of aquatic plants.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Probably monogamous. Nesting has been observed Mar.–Apr. Hidden nests are slightly raised on a bank or a clump of vegetation.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Considered Critically Endangered, but possibly extinct. Last seen in 1991. Declined due to habitat conversion and excessive hunting.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Hunted for food.

Other popular Animals