| |
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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
|
| COMMON
NAME: |
African
black duck, west African black duck, Ethiopian black
duck, South African black duck, black duck, black
river duck |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Anseriformes |
| FAMILY: |
Anatidae
|
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Anas
(duck) sparsa |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| DESCRIPTION: |
Overall,
this duck is black in color with white markings
on the back region. |
|
| SIZE: |
Approximately
35 cm (14 in.) |
|
| WEIGHT: |
316-502 g (11-18 oz) |
|
| DIET: |
Primarily
feeds on aquatic vegetation, but diet may also include
small, aquatic animals |
|
| INCUBATION: |
25-26 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
7-8
eggs |
| FLEDGING
DURATION |
6
weeks |
|
| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
1-2
years |
|
| LIFE
SPAN: |
Averages
20-30 years |
|
| RANGE: |
East
and South Africa |
|
| HABITAT: |
Found
in or near flowing, well-wooded highland streams |
|
| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
|
| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| 1. |
Males
are called drakes, females are hens, and young are
ducklings. |
|
|
| 2. |
African black ducks commonly feed in swift-running
streams. They forage by either standing on top of
partially submerged rocks and jabbing under the
rocks with their bills or by diving in rapids or
at the base of waterfalls. |
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| |
|
|
| These
birds are a food source for predators and also help
maintain plant growth. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Austin,
G. Birds of the World. New York. Golden Press,
Inc., 1961. |
|
|
Gotch, A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981. |
|
|
Johnsgard,
P. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World.
Lincoln. Univ. Of Neb. Press, 1978.
|
|
| Scott,
P. A Coloured Key of the Wildfowl of the World.
Slimbridge, England. The Wildfowl Trust. 1988. |
|
| Todd,
F.S. Natural History of Waterfowl. San Diego,
Ca. Ibis Publishing Co., 1996. |
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