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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Cape Barren goose, Cereopsis goose |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Anseriformes |
| FAMILY: |
Anatidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Cereopsis
novaehollandiae |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
Cape Barren goose has pale gray plumage with black
markings near the wing tips and tail. These
geese also have pink legs, black feet and a bright
greenish-yellow knot on their short black bill. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
85 cm (24.5 ft) long; wingspan 1.7 m (5.5 ft.) |
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| WEIGHT: |
Approximately
3.12-6.8 kg (6.98-15 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
Feeds
on common island tussock, spear grass, and various
herbs and succulents; also pasture grasses including
barley grass and clover |
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| INCUBATION: |
30 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
Lays
approximately 5 eggs |
| FLEDGING
DURATION |
Roughly
70 days |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
3 years |
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| RANGE: |
Inhabits
the southern coast of Australia; a small population
is found in Tasmania |
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| HABITAT: |
Found
on small, windy and generally uninhabited offshore
islands, but venture to adjacent mainland farming
areas as well |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
In
southern Australia an estimated 16,000-20,000 individuals;
in Tasmania, approximately 14,000 geese |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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|
| 1. |
Cape
Barren geese were once thought to be the immature
phase of the native black swan. |
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| 2. |
The call of the Cape Barren goose sounds like the
grunt of a pig. |
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By the 1950s the Cape Barren goose was nearly extinct.
Today, thanks to increased protection and feeding
grounds, their numbers are increasing. |
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|
|
| 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. |
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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. |
|
| Todd,
F.S. Natural History of Waterfowl. San Diego,
Ca. Ibis Publishing Co., 1996. |
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| http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/birds/cbg.html |
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