Magpie goose

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with the other birds, for which see Magpie and Magpie duck.

Magpie goose
Near East Point, Northern Territory

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anseranatidae
Genus: Anseranas
Lesson
, 1828
Species:
A. semipalmata
Binomial name
Anseranas semipalmata
(Latham, 1798)
Synonyms

Anas semipalmata Latham, 1798

The magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata) is the sole living representative

waterbird is found in northern Australia and southern New Guinea.[2] As the species is prone to wandering, especially when not breeding, it is sometimes recorded outside its core range.[2] The species was once also widespread in southern Australia but disappeared from there largely due to the drainage of the wetlands where the birds once bred. Due to their importance to Aboriginal people as a seasonal food source,[3] as subjects of recreational hunting,[4] and as a tourist attraction, their expansive and stable presence in northern Australia has been "ensured [by] protective management".[5]

Description

Magpie geese are unmistakable birds with their black and white plumage and yellowish legs. The feet are only partially webbed, and the magpie goose feeds on vegetable matter in the water, as well as on land. Males are larger than females. Unlike true

molt
is gradual, so no flightless periods result. Their voice is a loud honking.

Systematics and evolution

This species is placed in the

monotypic now.[6]

A cladistic study of the morphology of waterfowl found that the magpie goose was an early and distinctive offshoot, diverging after screamers and before all other ducks, geese, and swans.[7]

This family is quite old, a

Late Oligocene of Billy-Créchy (France).[8]

The earliest known member of the group in Australia is Eoanseranas represented by fossils found in the late Oligocene Carl Creek Limestone of Queensland.[9] Additional fossils from North America and Europe suggest that the family was spread across the globe during the late Paleogene period.[10] The Australian distribution of the living species ties in well with the presumed Gondwanan origin of Anseriformes, but Northern Hemisphere fossils are puzzling. Perhaps the magpie geese were one of the dominant groups of Paleogene waterfowl, only to become largely extinct later.[original research?]

Ecology and status

The magpie goose is found in a variety of open

spike rush bulbs and wild rice.[11]

It is fairly sedentary apart from some movement during the dry season. They are colonial breeders and are gregarious outside of the breeding season when they can form large and noisy flocks of up to a few thousand individuals. Its nest is on the ground (also in trees 5 m or more high), and a typical clutch is 5-14 eggs. Some males mate with two females, all of which raise the young, unlike some other polygamous birds. This may be beneficial when predation of young is high as chicks raised by trios are more likely to survive.

This species is plentiful across its range, although this is significantly reduced in comparison to the range at time of European settlement. The range once extended as far south as the

Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act list of threatened fauna, it is also listed.[13][14] As of early 2008, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species had not been prepared.[15]

With the advent of climate change, and more frequent seawater inundations of the current extensive freshwater floodplains, CSIRO scientists argue that magpie geese populations may be at risk.[16]

In Aboriginal languages

The

Ramingining as gumang.[20]

In the Wadawurrung language, the magpie goose is known as Ngangok.

Gallery

  • Juvenile
    Juvenile
  • Immature
    Immature
  • Taking off
    Taking off
  • In flight
    In flight
  • Magpie goose colony at Serendip Sanctuary
    Magpie goose colony at Serendip Sanctuary
  • Magpie goose on nest
    Magpie goose on nest
  • Eggs - MHNT
    Eggs -
    MHNT

See also

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679732A92826979.en
    . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^
    ISBN 84-87334-10-5
    .
  3. ^ Whitehead, P. J., M. Storrs, M. McKaige, R. Kennett, and M. Douglas. 2000. Wise use of wetlands in northern Australia: indigenous use. Centre for Tropical Wetlands Management and Centre for Indigenous Natural and Cultural Resource Management. Northern Territory University, Darwin.
  4. ISSN 1035-3712
    .
  5. ^ Traill, Lochran William (2009). Conservation of north Australian magpie geese Anseranas semipalmate populations under global change (PDF) (PhD Dissertation). p. 13.
  6. ^ Myers, P.; Espinosa, R.; Parr, C.S.; Jones, T.; Hammond, G.S. & Dewey, T.A. (2008): Animal Diversity Web - Family Anseranatidae.
  7. doi:10.1093/auk/103.4.737
    .
  8. doi:10.1016/j.geobios.2003.01.002
    .
  9. S2CID 129930435
    .
  10. S2CID 129930435
    .
  11. ^ Wilber, R. (2008). "Anseranas semipalmata". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  12. ISBN 978-1-74208-039-0
  13. ^ The FFGA list does not distinguish different threat categories.
  14. ^ Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment (2007): Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act of 1988 - Threatened List December 2007.
  15. ^ Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment (2007): Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act of 1988: Index of Approved Action Statements Archived 2008-10-15 at the Wayback Machine.
  16. ^ ECOS: Indigenous icon at risk from sea level rise. Blogs, CSIRO. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  17. ^ Garde, Murray. "manimunak". Bininj Kunwok Online Dictionary. Bininj Kunwok Regional Language Centre. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  18. ^ Goodfellow, D.L. & M. Stott (2001, 2005). Birds of Australia's Top End. 1st Edition, Darwin: Scrubfowl Press. 2nd Edition, Sydney: Reed New Holland.
  19. ^ "gurrumaṯtji". Yolngu Matha Dictionary. Charles Darwin University. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Roy Burnyila". Bula'bula Arts. Retrieved 1 June 2019.

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anseranas semipalmata.
Wikispecies has information related to Anseranas semipalmata.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Magpie_goose&oldid=1211444807"