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Anas sparsa

Anas sparsa

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Pangalloanserae
Cladus: Galloanseres
Ordo: Anseriformes

Familia: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Species: Anas sparsa
Subspecies: A. s. leucostigma – A. s. sparsa
Name

Anas sparsa Eyton, 1838
References
Primary references

Eyton, T.C. 1838. A monograph on the Anatidae or duck tribe. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longman. DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.49546 Reference page. [see page 142.]

Vernacular names
Afrikaans: Swarteend
čeština: Kachna temná
Deutsch: Schwarzente
English: African Black Duck
español: Anade Negro
suomi: Afrikannokisorsa
français: Canard noir
magyar: Afrikai fekete réce
italiano: Germano nero africano
日本語: シラボシガモ
norsk: Elveand
svenska: Afrikansk svartand

The African black duck (Anas sparsa) is a species of duck of the genus Anas. It is genetically closest to the mallard group,[2] but shows some peculiarities in its behavior[3] and (as far as they can be discerned) plumage; it is accordingly placed in the subgenus Melananas pending further research.
Contents

1 Description
2 Distribution
3 Behavior and reproduction
4 Ecology
5 Diet
6 References
7 External links

Description
African black duck

The African black duck is a black duck with pronounced white marks on its back, a dark bill, and orange legs and feet. A purpish-blue speculum is often visible, especially in flight. It lives in central and southern Africa. It is also known as the black river duck, or (A. s. leucostigma) West African black duck or Ethiopian black duck. It is a medium-sized duck, with a length of 48–57 cm (19–22 in). The male is larger than the female.[3]
Distribution

The African black duck is mainly found in eastern and southern sub-Saharan Africa from South Africa north to South Sudan and Ethiopia with outlying populations in western equatorial Africa, in southeast Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon.[4]
Behavior and reproduction

It is a very shy and territorial duck. It is usually seen in pairs or small flocks. It breeds throughout the year in different areas. Incubation is about 30 days by the mother and the fledgling period is 86 days and only the mother takes care of the young. Their egg quantity ranges from 4 to 8 eggs.[5]
Ecology

Though it likes to stay in rivers and streams during the day it prefers large open waters during the night. This duck likes water in the wooded hills of Africa and hides its nest near running water. Also the African black duck makes its cup shaped nest of driftwood and matted grass. Though it builds its nest near water it is always above flood level and on the ground.[5]
Diet

It is an omnivore that feeds off of larvae and pupae usually found under rocks, aquatic animals, plant material, seeds, small fish, snails, and crabs.[5]
References

BirdLife International (2016). "Anas sparsa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680170A92847774. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680170A92847774.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
Johnson, Kevin P.; Sorenson, Michael D. (1999). "Phylogeny and biogeography of dabbling ducks (genus Anas): a comparison of molecular and morphological evidence" (PDF). Auk. 116 (3): 792–805. doi:10.2307/4089339. JSTOR 4089339.
Johnson, Kevin P.; McKinney, Frank; Wilson, Robert & Sorenson, Michael D. (2000). "The evolution of postcopulatory displays in dabbling ducks (Anatini): a phylogenetic perspective" (PDF). Animal Behaviour. 59 (5): 953–963. doi:10.1006/anbe.1999.1399. PMID 10860522. S2CID 28172603. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-01-05.
"African Black Duck (Anas sparsa)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lunx Edicions. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
"Anas sparsa (African black duck)". Biodiversity Explorer. Iziko Museums of South Africa. Retrieved 2016-11-06.

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