Animalia Life

Tachyeres pteneres
SUBFAMILY
Tadiorninae
TAXONOMY
Anas pteneres Foster, 1844, Tierra del Fuego. Monotypic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Magellanic flightless steamerduck; French: Brassemer cendrй; German: Magellan-Dampfschiffente; Spanish: Patovapor de Magellanes.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
29.1–33.1 in (74–84 cm); 8.0–13.6 lb (3.63–6.18 kg); small wings render it almost flightless.
DISTRIBUTION
Coastal Chile from Chiloй Island south to Cape Horn, and coastal Argentina from Chubut south to Tierra del Fuego and Staten Island.
HABITAT
Rocky shores and sheltered bays, often several miles from coast.
BEHAVIOR
Highly territorial and very aggressive. Both males and females defend territory. Perform triumph ceremonies. Moves over water by flapping wings like a steamer boat. Sedentary.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds by diving in shallow kelp beds for marine mollusks and crustaceans.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Perennially monogamous. Breeding starts Sept. or Oct.. Lay 5–8 eggs into well hidden nests; incubation c. 30–40 days.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Common in limited range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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