Chatham duck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chatham duckTemporal range: Late Pleistocene-Holocene
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| Conservation status | |
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Extinct (13-15th century)
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Anas
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| Species: |
chathamica
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The Chatham duck (Anas chathamica) was a type of duck that is now extinct. It used to live on the Chatham Islands in New Zealand. These islands are located in the south-west Pacific Ocean.
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About the Chatham Duck
The Chatham duck was a unique bird. A scientist named Walter Oliver first described it in 1955. He studied its bones from the Canterbury Museum in New Zealand. At first, scientists thought it was a very different kind of duck. They even gave it its own special group.
Family Tree of the Chatham Duck
Later, scientists used new methods to study the duck. They looked at its mitochondrial DNA from old bones. This DNA showed that the Chatham duck was actually a type of "dabbling duck." This means it belongs to the same group as many common ducks. Its closest living relatives are the Auckland teal, Campbell teal, and the brown teal. These ducks also live in New Zealand.
Could the Chatham Duck Fly?
Some people thought the Chatham duck could not fly. This is because some island birds lose their ability to fly over time. However, scientists compared the wing bones of the Chatham duck to those of ducks that can fly. They found that its wings were not unusually small. This suggests that the Chatham duck was likely able to fly.
Why Did the Chatham Duck Disappear?
The Chatham duck probably became extinct around the 16th century. This means it disappeared about 500 years ago. The main reason for its extinction was likely hunting by humans. When people arrived on the Chatham Islands, they hunted these ducks for food.
