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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Cape
teal |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Anseriformes |
| FAMILY: |
Anatidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Anas
(duck) capensis (from the Cape) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
This
is a small duck with pale, mottled gray feathers
throughout its body and a with pink bill and reddish
eyes. The speculum is green and black and
bordered with white. |
| FEMALE |
The
female is slightly smaller, paler in color and less
speckled than the male. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
35 cm (14 in.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
316-502 g (11-18 oz) |
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| DIET: |
Includes
water plants, plankton, crustaceans, and tadpoles |
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| INCUBATION: |
25-26 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
7-8
eggs |
| FLEDGING
DURATION |
6
weeks |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
1-2 years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Averages
20-30 years |
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| HABITAT: |
Found
in or near shallow lakes and marshes in open country,
lagoons, estuaries, and tidal flats |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Appendix III |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
Cape
teal are one of the few species of dabbling ducks
that actually dive. They are capable of swimming
underwater with their wings closed like other true
diving ducks. Normally, dabbling ducks dive with
their wings open. |
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| 2. |
These ducks have tooth like serrations around their
bill, which scientists think means filter feeding
is important to this species. |
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| 3. |
Teals are not very vocal, but males do emit a high-pitched
whistle and the female responds with a nasal quack. |
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| 4. |
Cape
teals are known to perform what is referred to as
'nod swimming' during courtship. It is a rapid scoot
over the water surface in a semi-circle with the
wings positioned so that the speculum is showing.
However, during such a dance, at no time does the
duck ever actually nod. |
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| 5. |
Many
ducks have high mortality rates during the egg and
duckling stage, but because both parents raise the
teal ducklings, fewer offspring die. Cape teal are
good parents and will often aggressively defend
their young against larger birds. |
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| Cape
teal are not endangered. In fact, the population
is most likely increasing due to new dams, reservoirs,
and irrigation projects. They are commonly hunted
for food by both animals and humans. |
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|
|
Austin, G. Birds of the World. New York.
Golden Press, Inc., 1961. |
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Gotch, A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981.
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| Johnsgard,
P. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World.
Lincoln. Univ. Of Neb. Press, 1978. |
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| Scott,
P. A Coloured Key of the Wildfowl of the World.
Slimbridge, England. The Wildfowl Trust. 1988. |
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| Todd,
F.S. Natural History of Waterfowl. San Diego,
Ca. Ibis Publishing Co., 1996. |
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| http://alaike.lcc.hawaii.edu/zoology101/Report_Files/cap-teal.htm |
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| http://www.honoluluzoo.org/cape_teal.htm |
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