#hymenolaimus

[herpsandbirds]

Whio or Blue Duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos), family Anatidae, order Anseriformes, Whanganui River, New Zealand

Endangered.

photograph by Robert Taylor

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos

By Bernard Spragg, in the Public Domain

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Name: Hymenolaimus malachorhynchos

Status: Extant

First Described: 1843

Described By: Gray

Classification: Dinosauria, Saurischia, Eusaurischia, Theropoda, Neotheropoda, Averostra, Tetanurae, Orionides, Avetheropoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Pennaraptora, Paraves, Eumaniraptora, Averaptora, Avialae, Euavialae, Avebrevicauda, Pygostylia, Ornithothoraces, Euornithes, Ornithuromorpha, Ornithurae, Neornithes, Neognathae, Galloanserae, Anseriformes, Anseres, Anatoidea, Anatidae

Hymenolaimus, otherwise known as the Whio (pronounced Fee-oh), is an endangered cuk from New Zealand (so, that explains why it’s endangered). The Whio is a rather taxonomically distinct bird, though it’s probably closest to the dabbling ducks. This bird weighs up to 1 kilogram, though usually its a bit less than that. They are dark grey with some greenish color on the heads, with blueish top plumage, and chestnut-speckled chests. They also have pale bills. They look at least a little different depending on whether they’re from the North or South Island populations, but they aren’t different subspecies. They nest in hollow logs and small caves; and believe that and its endangered status, they are rather rare ducks. 

By World Playground, CC BY-SA 3.0

They don’t fly often, but they are powerful swimmers in strong currents. They feed on aquatic invertebrates, especially caddisfly larvae. They nest in August and October, with the female incubating the nest and the male standing guard, though they are at risk from spring floods, making breeding an often difficult endeavor. Currently, there seem to be at maximum 3,000 ducks left in the wild, and its localized population on an ecologically overturned island increases their vulnerability. Conservation efforts, including a five-year management plan, are underway. 

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Source: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_duck

[drhoz]

#2703 - Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos - Whio

Also known as the Blue Duck or Mountain Duck. The binomial combines the Ancient Greek humēn, laimos, malakos and rhunkhos - 'soft-billed throat-membrane'.

An Aotearoan endemic that lives along fast-flowing streams, sucking insect larvae off the rocks with their soft bills. Strong swimmers, but reluctant fliers.

Highly endangered - less than 3000 are left in the wild. Introduced predators are the main threat. Stoats wiped out all clutchs within ten days in one study area, and nesting females are almost as vulnerable. Flooding, habitat degradation, and hydroelectric dams are all serious problems.

The only time a breeding program was attempted outside Aotearoa failed after the two males decided they preferred each other to their assigned females.

Kiwi Park, Queenstown, Aotearoa New Zealand.