Chordates • Earth.com

Meller's duck

(Anas melleri)

Description

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 Ancient Greek for a duck.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 Anas genus.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.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Aves
Order:Anseriformes
Family:Anatidae
Genus:Anas
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