Magpie goose

Not to be confused with the other birds, for which see Magpie and Magpie duck.

Magpie goose
Near East Point, Northern Territory
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anseranatidae
Genus: Anseranas
Lesson, 1828
Species:
A. semipalmata
Binomial name
Anseranas semipalmata
(Latham, 1798)
Synonyms

Anas semipalmata Latham, 1798

The magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata) is the sole living representative species of the family Anseranatidae. This common waterbird is found in northern Australia and southern New Guinea.[2] As the species is prone to wandering, especially when not breeding, it is sometimes recorded outside its core range.[2] The species was once also widespread in southern Australia but disappeared from there largely due to the drainage of the wetlands where the birds once bred. Due to their importance to Aboriginal people as a seasonal food source,[3] as subjects of recreational hunting,[4] and as a tourist attraction, their expansive and stable presence in northern Australia has been "ensured [by] protective management".[5]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Anseranas semipalmata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22679732A92826979. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679732A92826979.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Carboneras, C. (1992). "Magpie Goose". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1. Lynx Edicions. pp. 574–575. ISBN 84-87334-10-5.
  3. ^ Whitehead, P. J., M. Storrs, M. McKaige, R. Kennett, and M. Douglas. 2000. Wise use of wetlands in northern Australia: indigenous use. Centre for Tropical Wetlands Management and Centre for Indigenous Natural and Cultural Resource Management. Northern Territory University, Darwin.
  4. ^ Whitehead, PJ; Bayliss, P; Fox, RE (1988). "Recreational Waterfowl Hunting Activity and Harvests in Northern-Territory, Australia". Wildlife Research. 15 (6): 625. doi:10.1071/wr9880625. ISSN 1035-3712.
  5. ^ Traill, Lochran William (2009). Conservation of north Australian magpie geese Anseranas semipalmate populations under global change (PDF) (PhD Dissertation). p. 13.