African Pygmy-Goose
Nettapus auritus
Location in Zoo 2
Congo Gorilla Forest
Habitat 3
These waterfowl inhabit shallow wetlands that are abundant in floating, aquatic vegetation, such as water lilies.
Diet 3
They feed on larvae, aquatic plants, small fish, seeds, spiders, and insects.
Adaptations 3
These birds have developed webbed feet to aid with swimming, and sharp claws that enable them to climb wooden surfaces. Rather than nostrils, they have blowholes so they can breathe at the surface of the water. Their skin secretes oils that cause their feathers to be water-proof.
Conservation Status 3
The Nerrapus auritus' conservation status according to the IUCN Red List is of Least Concern (LC.)
Taxonomy 3
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Subfamily: Anatinae
Genus: Nettapus
Living relatives of the African pygmy goose include other waterfowl, namely the dabbling duck.
Sources and Credits
- (c) congobronxzoo, all rights reserved
- Adapted by congobronxzoo from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nettapus_auritus
- (c) congobronxzoo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
