WATERFOWL of Australasia
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
Family Anatidae
Genus Cereopsis - 1 species
Goose, Cape Barren Cereopsis novaehollandiae Found: Australia
The Cape Barren Goose is a most peculiar goose of uncertain affiliations. 1996). It may either belong to the "true geese" and swan subfamily Anserinae or into
the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae. [Wikipedia]
Genus Stictonetta - 1 species
Duck, Freckled Stictonetta naevosa Found: Australia
This species was formerly allied with the dabbling ducks, but is now placed in a monotypic subfamily Stictonettinae. It appears to be part of an Gondwanan radiation of
waterfowl, before true ducks evolved (Sraml et al. 1996). [Wikipedia]
1, 2) Male 4, 5, 6) 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
Goose, Green Pygmy Nettapus pulchellus Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1, 3) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights 2) Dick - Sylvan Heights 4) Sandy Cole - Sylvan Heightss
Family Anseranatidae
This family has only one Genus and that Genus has only one species - the Magpie Goose! This goose diverged from the other waterfowl tens of millions of years ago,
Genus Anseranas - 1 species
Goose, Magpie Anseranas semipalmata Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7) Dick Daniels - Australia 2, 4, 8) Dick - Sylvan Heights
All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details. Dick Daniels, webmaster.