Pygmy goose
From Freepedia
| Pygmy Geese | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image:Gree Pygmy Goose.jpg Green Pygmy Goose | ||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
| Species | ||||||||||||
The pygmy geese are a group of very small perching ducks in the genus Nettapus which breed in the Old World tropics. They are the smallest of all wildfowl.
There are three species in the genus
- Green Pygmy Goose Nettapus pulchellus of northern Australia and southern New Guinea. (Conservation status: Lower risk (lc))
- Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus of Southeast Asia. (Conservation status: Lower risk (lc))
- African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus of sub-Saharan Africa. (Conservation status: Lower risk (lc))
Their habitat is still freshwater lakes, where these neat ducks feed on seeds and other vegetation, especially water lilies.
Pygmy geese have short bills, rounded heads and short legs. They nest in tree holes.
Reference
- Wildfowl by Madge and Burn, ISBN 0-7470-2201-1
