| Andaman teal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Illustration byKeulemans (1908) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Genus: | Anas |
| Species: | A. albogularis |
| Binomial name | |
| Anas albogularis (Hume, 1873) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Mareca albogularisHume, 1873 | |
TheAndaman teal (Anas albogularis) is a species ofduck endemic to theAndaman archipelago in theBay of Bengal. The species was formerly considered as a subspecies of theSunda teal.
The firstformal description of the Andaman teal was by the English ornithologistAllan Octavian Hume in 1873 under thebinomial nameMareca albogularis.[3] It is now placed with many otherdabbling ducks in the genusAnas.[4] It was formerly considered as a subspecies of theSunda teal (Anas gibberifrons) that is found in Indonesia.[4]
The species is dark brown with buffy markings. The face and throat are pale with a white ring around the eye. The bill is bluish grey and the iris is red.[5]
Andaman teals are endemic to theAndaman Islands (India) andGreat Coco Island (Burma). They are found in inland pools as well as mangroves and lagoons.[6][7] A population estimate of 500 to 600 individuals was made in a survey conducted in 1995–98, and 674 were counted in 2005.[8] Their population has been on the increase for the last few decades, and was most recently estimated in 2014 to have slightly more than 1,000 individuals.[1]
They feed at night in rice fields. The breeding season is July to October and nests in reed patches. The nest is made of grass and about nine eggs forms the clutch.[9] They were formerly considered to breed in tree hollows but recent studies found no evidence. They feed mainly on molluscs and arthropods.[8]
