Biology
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Often seen in pairs or small groups of four to twelve individuals (2), Meller's ducks only form larger flocks when feeding or roosting during the day (4). They feed on a variety of foods found in their freshwater habitat, including aquatic vegetation, seeds and invertebrates, particularly molluscs (2) (4).
During the nesting season, which extends between September and April, Meller's ducks are highly territorial and monogamous pairs will aggressively defend a section of the river or stream (2) (3) (4). Females build a nest of plant material and feathers in thick vegetation at the water's edge, without the assistance of the male (3). Into this nest the female lays one egg each day (3), until a clutch of five to ten smooth, dull white eggs have been laid (2) (4). Once the final egg of the clutch has been laid, the female commences incubation by sitting on the eggs (3), where she will remain for 26 to 28 days (4), only leaving for short periods to quickly forage for food and water (3). While the male does not participate in nest building or incubating, he remains close to the nest throughout this period, protecting his mate, eggs and hatchlings from any potential intruders (3). Sometimes, pairs may come together again for consecutive breeding seasons (4). The hatchlings fledge at 11 weeks of age and begin breeding themselves at one year of age (4). In captivity, Meller's ducks have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years (3).
Conservation
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Meller's duck occurs in at least seven protected areas in Madagascar (2), and there are some laws in place to control hunting of this species. However, these laws are often not enforced and hunting of this endangered bird continues (3). A captive population of Meller's ducks exists at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Jersey, where over 150 young have been successfully reared. This population not only acts as a safeguard should the species become extinct in the wild, but it also allows extensive research to be undertaken, gaining valuable information which may be used to formulate a conservation plan for the wild population (3). In the wild, improved enforcement of hunting regulations and the development of protected areas that incorporate nesting sites, are considered essential actions to ensure the survival of Meller's duck (4) (5).
Description
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While this duck may not look too remarkable, it is distinguished by its unfortunate reputation as one of the rarest species of wildfowl (3). A large duck with brown plumage, flecked and streaked with pale brown (3), the most striking feature of the Meller's duck is the patch of dark green, bordered with white, on the wing (4). In flight, the pale underside of the wing can be seen, which contrasts with the dark body. Its bill is bluish-grey, the eyes are dark brown and the webbed feet are orange-brown (4). Male Meller's ducks are slightly larger than females and can also be identified by the two central tail feathers which are tipped black, in contrast to the slightly shorter, buff-tipped feathers of the female (4).
Habitat
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Meller's ducks inhabit freshwater lakes, rivers, streams and marshlands, often in forested areas, up to an elevation of 2,000 metres. Lake Alaotra, Madagascar's largest lake, is believed to be one of the most important sites for this endangered bird (4).
Range
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Meller's duck is endemic to Madagascar (4). It used to occur over all central and eastern parts of the island, but since deforestation of Madagascar's central plateau it has become increasingly confined to the east (3) (4). Around 1850, Meller's duck was introduced to Mauritius, but it is now virtually extinct on the island and may only survive through the continual release of captive birds (4) (5).
Status
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Classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Threats
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The wetland habitats of Madagascar, on which this duck depends, have suffered widespread modification since humans arrived on the island around 1,500 years ago (5). Deforestation of the surrounding lands has increased siltation in the rivers and lakes, which along with drainage, pollution, the conversion of marshes to rice-paddies and the introduction of exotic plants and fishes, has resulted in the reduction of Madagascar's native wetland inhabitants (5). Introduced large fish, such as largemouth bass and snakehead, are thought to have led to the Meller's duck deserting some areas (4). The enormous impact these threats could potentially have on Meller's ducks is illustrated by the plight of two waterbirds that once occurred in Lake Alaotra: the now extinct Delacour's grebe (Tachybaptus rufolavatus) and the recently re-discovered Madagascar pochard (Aythya innotata) (5) (6). Compounding the threat of habitat loss and degradation is hunting; around 450 ducks are killed each year from Lake Alaotra for food, which constitutes an incredible 18 percent of the global population (2).
Meller's duck
provided by wikipedia EN
Meller's duck (Anas melleri) is a species of the dabbling duck genus Anas. It is endemic to eastern Madagascar. Although a population was established on Mauritius in the mid-18th century, this is on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss and competition by feral domestic ducks.[2] The species name of this species is after the botanist Charles James Meller, and its generic name is from the Latin for "duck".
Description
The Meller's duck resembles a large female mallard. At 55–65 centimetres (22–26 in), it averages slightly larger than a mallard and is at the top size for the genus Anas.[3] However, as opposed to most mallard relatives, they lack a supercilium. The speculum feathers are green as in some of its relatives, but unlike in these, it is bordered white as in the mallard. Its body is dark brown with narrow paler fringes to feathers on upper parts and wider fringes on lower parts. Its bill is pale grey, with dark patches at the base, and is larger than normal. Its feet and legs are orange.[4]
Behaviour
Meller's duck breeds apparently during most of the year except May–June on Madagascar, dependent on local conditions; the Mauritian population has been recorded to breed in October and November. Unlike most of their closer relatives—with the exception of the African black duck—they are fiercely territorial during the breeding season; furthermore, pairs remain mated until the young are independent.[2]
Conservation
This species is listed as an endangered species by the IUCN Red List. The Lac Alaotra wetlands, where historically the largest number of these birds was to be found, have suffered habitat destruction on a large scale in the latter half of the 20th century, and local waterbird populations have declined dramatically. The Madagascar pochard was rediscovered in 2006, though not in the Lac Alaotra area.[2]
The conservation of this species was long hampered by its—entirely erroneous, see below—dismissal as a variant of the mallard which deserved no special interest.[2] Due to its drab plumage and territorial habits, this species is not very popular among aviculturalists, although it reproduces readily in captivity like most ducks if enough space and good habitat are provided. Although a captive breeding program exists (part of the European Endangered Species Programme), the species is not very often kept in zoos either; it can be more frequently seen in Europe, such as in EEP members Cologne Zoo, Edinburgh Zoo, Durrell Wildlife Park, and Zürich Zoo.
Relations
Due to the outward similarity of Meller's duck to the female mallard, it was commonly placed close to that species. Based on records of quasi-forced hybridization under unnatural conditions,[5] it was even proposed to be a mere color morph of the mallard.[6]
Nowadays, it is regarded as one of the most distinct species in the mallard group, based on behavioural[7] and mtDNA D-loop sequence comparisons.[2][8] Its closest relatives is apparently the yellow-billed duck, another early divergence of the mallard clade, in which these species and the African black duck are basal, but the exact relationships of Meller's and the yellow-billed ducks to that species are fairly obscure.[2][7] (The dates in these studies are probably far too recent in the face of the Early Pleistocene fossil record of mallards and the crude methodology used to arrive at the estimate.)
References
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^ BirdLife International (2016). "Anas melleri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680225A92850618. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680225A92850618.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
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^ a b c d e f Young, H. Glyn & Rhymer, Judith M. (1998). "Meller's duck: A threatened species receives recognition at last". Biodiversity and Conservation. 7 (10): 1313–1323. doi:10.1023/A:1008843815676. S2CID 27384967.
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^ Meller’s duck (Anas melleri) Archived 2011-03-17 at the Wayback Machine. arkive.org
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^ Madge, Steve; Burn, Hilary (1988). Waterfowl: an Identification Guide to the Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 217. ISBN 0-395-46727-6.
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^ Lorenz, Konrad Z. (1941). "Vergleichende Bewegungsstudien an Anatinen" (PDF). Journal für Ornithologie. 89 (Supplement): 194–294.
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^ Johnsgard, P. A. (1965) Handbook of waterfowl behaviour. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. ISBN 0-8014-0207-7
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^ a b Young, H. Glyn (1999). "Comparative study of the courtship displays of Meller's Duck Anas melleri, Yellowbilled Duck A. undulata and Northern Mallard A. platyrhynchos". Ostrich. 70 (2): 117–122. doi:10.1080/00306525.1999.9634525.
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^ Johnson, Kevin P. & Sorenson, Michael D. (1999). "Phylogeny and biogeography of dabbling ducks (genus Anas): a comparison of molecular and morphological evidence" (PDF). Auk. 116 (3): 792–805. doi:10.2307/4089339. JSTOR 4089339.
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Meller's duck: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Meller's duck (Anas melleri) is a species of the dabbling duck genus Anas. It is endemic to eastern Madagascar. Although a population was established on Mauritius in the mid-18th century, this is on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss and competition by feral domestic ducks. The species name of this species is after the botanist Charles James Meller, and its generic name is from the Latin for "duck".
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