WATERFOWL of Asia
The order Anseriformes contains about 150 living species of birds in three families: the Anhimidae (the screamers), Anseranatidae (the Magpie Goose), and the Anatidae, which includes over 140 species of waterfowl, among them the ducks, geese, and swans. All species in the order are web-footed for efficient swimming and have a large wide bill with a specialized tongue that allows water to be sucked in the front of the bill. An array of plates traps food particles as the water is expelled out the sides of the bill. Not all species feed this way, some graze on plants and some also catch fish. [abstracted from Wikipedia]
WATERFOWL ODDITIES
Order Anseriformes
Genus Sarkidiornis - 1 species
Duck, Knob-billed aka Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Found: Asia, Africa, South America
DNA analysis of the Knob-billed duck species suggests that it is a basal member of the Anatidae family. That is, the Knob-billed Duck does not have any close relatives. Sarkidiornis
m. melanotos is found in the Old World and Sarkidiornis m. sylvicola is found in South America
7) Arno Meintjes 8) Ian White - Zambia 9, 10) Lip Kee - India
1 - 6) Sarkidiornis m. sylvicola 1, 2) Male 3 - 6) Female
7 - 10) Sarkidiornis m. melanotos 7, 8) Male 9, 10) Female
Genus Nettapus
The pygmy geese are a group of very small "perching ducks" in the genus Nettapus which breed in the Old World tropics. They are the smallest of all waterfowl. The initially assumed relationship with the dabbling duck subfamily Anatinae has been questioned.
Goose, Cotton Pygmy Nettapus coromandelianus Found: Asia, Australia
Photographed by: 1) Charlie Westerinen in captivity in Arizona 2) JJ Harrison in Thailand
2) Female
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