Amsterdam Wigeon
The Amsterdam duck ( Anas marecula ) is an extinct dabbling duck which is counted among the dabbling ducks. He came by today's findings demonstrated before on the island of Amsterdam in the Indian Ocean south-east of Africa. However, was inhabited possibly the neighboring island of Saint Paul. There is evidence that the duck became extinct only in modern times.
Distribution area
Both the Amsterdam Island and Saint Paul today have only a population of Kerguelenenten, but were reintroduced there.
History
The Amsterdam duck has been scientifically described in 1996 based on skeletal remains. The bones are considered to be a maximum of a few hundred years old. Due to the bone findings shall be deemed incapable of flight. There is also the report of the explorer John Barrow of 2 February 1793 describing a little brown duck for Saint Paul, which is not much bigger than a choke. He refers to it as the preferred food of five seal hunters who lived on this island. Applies to the conjecture that this acted to Amsterdam duck, then the duck Amsterdam is extinct only in modern times. However, it is equally conceivable that this is a different, now also extinct breeds of ducks in the observed on Saint Paul ducks.