Mascarene teal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mascarene tealMauritius duck |
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| Subfossils | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Anas
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| Species: |
theodori
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| Location of the Mascarene Islands, where it was found | |
The Mascarene teal (Anas theodori), also known as Sauzier's teal and Mauritian duck, was a type of dabbling duck that is now extinct. It used to live on the islands of Mauritius and Réunion.
Discovering the Mascarene Teal
Scientists learn about extinct animals by studying their subfossils. These are very old bones or other remains. Many bones of the Mascarene teal have been found. Some were found in the Mare aux Songes swamp on Mauritius. More recently, bones were also found on Réunion.
The scientific name, Anas theodori, honors a person named Théodore Sauzier. He helped scientists by making many bones of extinct birds from Mauritius available for study.
Scientists group animals together based on how they are related. This is called taxonomy. The Mascarene teal was a type of Anas duck. Its closest living relative is likely Bernier's teal, which lives in Madagascar.
What the Mascarene Teal Looked Like
The Mascarene teal was a small duck. It was part of a group of ducks called the Anas gibberifrons superspecies. It looked a lot like Bernier's teal.
However, the Mascarene teal was bigger than a Sunda teal. It was smaller than a mallard. It also had stronger wings than its relatives.
Why the Mascarene Teal Disappeared
Sadly, the Mascarene teal became extinct on both Mauritius and Réunion. This happened at about the same time. The main reason for its disappearance was too much hunting by people.
On Mauritius, these "grey teals" were common in 1681. But by 1693, people noticed they were becoming rare. The last time anyone officially mentioned seeing the species alive was in 1696. This was reported by the governor, Roelof Deodati.
On Réunion, the duck was last reliably reported in 1687. So, scientists believe the Mascarene teal died out in the late 1690s on Mauritius. It likely disappeared a few years earlier on Réunion.
