Mauritius Shelduck vs African Pygmy-goose
Alopochen mauritiana verglichen mit Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Mauritius Shelduck | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Alopochen mauritiana | Nettapus auritus |
| Ordnung | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familie | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | — | 29,9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Gewicht | — | 272,5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Ernährung | Extinct Mauritius shelduck; likely grazed on grasses and aquatic plants near wetlands; diet inferred from … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Gelegegröße | -- | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Mauritius Shelduck
Historically inhabited wetlands, rivers, and lowland areas of Mauritius. Now extinct; last records from the early colonial period.
African Pygmy-goose
Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers with floating water lilies and other aquatic vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Tanzania. Nests in tree cavities near water. Highly dependent on water lily vegetation.
Song & Call Comparison
Mauritius Shelduck
Extinct (EX); no vocalizations documented. The Mauritius Shelduck was last seen in the 1690s. Any description would be speculative given total absence of written records.
African Pygmy-goose
Male produces a soft, wheezy whistle; female gives a quiet, duck-like quack. Pairs exchange rapid twittering notes during courtship on lily-covered African pools.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mauritius Shelduck
Formerly endemic to Mauritius, Indian Ocean. Extinct; known only from 17th-century accounts and subfossil bones found on the island.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Erhaltungsstatus
Mauritius Shelduck
African Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Mauritius Shelduck
Extinct Mascarene shelduck known only from fossil and subfossil remains. Likely brownish plumage similar to Egyptian Goose relatives; presumed sexual dimorphism. Extinct by late 17th century.
African Pygmy-goose
Tiny. Males have glossy dark green head with orange facial patch and ear spot; chestnut-orange flanks; white underparts; black and green back. Females duller with dark eye-stripe. Small yellow-green bill.
About These Birds
Mauritius Shelduck
An extinct shelduck formerly endemic to Mauritius. Known from subfossil bones and historical records from the 17th century. Likely resembled the Egyptian Goose. Went extinct after European colonization due to hunting and introduced predators. No description of living birds exists.
African Pygmy-goose
A tiny jewel-like duck—one of Africa's smallest waterfowl. Males have iridescent green-and-white plumage, an orange bill, and a dark green cap; females are mottled brown. Found on lily-covered lakes in sub-Saharan Africa. Perches on water lily pads and feeds on their seeds and flowers.