African Pygmy-Goose

SCI Name:  Nettapus auritus
Protonym:  Anas aurita TablePlanchesEnlum. p.48
Taxonomy:  Anseriformes / Anatidae / Nettapus
Taxonomy Code:  afrpyg1
Type Locality:  Madagascar.
Author:  Boddaert
Publish Year:  1783
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

NETTAPUS
(Anatidae; Ϯ African Pygmy Goose N. auritus) Gr. νηττα nētta  duck; πους pous, ποδος podos  foot; the African Pygmy Goose was considered to have the feet and body of a duck, and the bill and neck of a goose; "D. Subgen. NETTAPUS NOB.  Rostri forma ut in Bernaclis, sed in mandibula, ut in Anseribus genuinis, exterior seu lateralis lamellarum series nulla. Collum elongatum. Pedes admodum breves. Tarsi digito medio propriae longitudinis tertia parte breviores. Unicam speciem huic inserendam huc usque sistit Anser madagascariensis seu Anas madagascariensis Auct., quae quidem rostro et collo Anserem, pedum structura autem et corpore Anatem praebet." (Brandt 1836); "Nettapus Brandt, Descr. Icon. Anim. Ross. Nov., Aves, fasc. 1, 1836, p. 5. Type, by monotypy, Anas masagascariensis Gmelin = Anas aurita Boddaert." (Peters 1931, 1, 172).
Var. Nettopus, Nettepus.
Synon. Anserella, Cheniscus, Microcygna, Nessarius.

auritum / auritus
L. auritus  eared, long-eared  < auris  ear.
● ex “Mellisuga Cayennensis major” of Brisson 1760, “Oiseau-mouche à oreilles” of de Buffon 1770-1783, and “Violet-eared Humming-bird” of Latham 1782 (Heliothryx).
● ex “Sarcelle mâle de Madagascar” of d’Aubenton 1765-1781, pl. 770 (Nettapus).
● ex "Cormoran dilophe" of Vieillot 1825 (Phalacrocorax).
● "68. COLYMBUS.  ...  auritus.  3. C. pedibus lobatis, capite nigro, auribus cristato-ferrugineis. Fn. Svec. 123.  Colymbus s. Podiceps minor. Aldr. orn. l. 19. c. 52. Will. orn. 258. t. 61. Sloan. jam. 2. p. 322. t. 271. f. 1. Raj. av. 125. Mars. danub. 82. t. 39. Alb. av. 2. p. 70. t. 76. Edw. av. 145. t. 145. & 96. l. 96.  Habitat in summis Europæ & Americæ lacubus.  Nidum natantem conficit." (Linnaeus 1758) (Podiceps).
● ex “Passarage Bustard” of Latham 1787 (syn. Sypheotides indicus).