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| Kingdoms / Animalia / Craniata / Aves / Anseriformes / Anatidae / Marmaronetta / Species |
| < > Marmaronetta angustirostris - Marbled teal (Click photographs/illustrations: full picture & further details) |
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Alternative Names (Synonyms) |
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| Marbled duck Marmelente (German) Sarcelle marbrée (French) Cerceta pardilla (Spanish) Cerceta marmorata (Spanish) Anas angustirostris |
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Names for newly-hatched |
Duckling, downy. |
Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases |
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Species Author |
Debra Bourne |
Major References |
B1, B2, B3, B5, B8, B19, B25, B26 |
Other References |
B44.9.w1 W2 |
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TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis) |
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Parent Group |
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Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques |
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Aviculture Information |
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Notes |
(B29, B30, B31, B40, B44.9.w1,B97 ) Aviornis UK Ringing Scheme suggested average closed ring size: H 8.0mm (D8). |
Management Techniques |
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External Appearance (Morphology)
Measurement & Weight |
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| Length | 15-19 inches, 38-48cm (B3); 39-48cm (B1) | |
| Adult weight | General | 450-590g (B1) |
| Male | 240-600g (B3); mean 8.5-21.1 ounces (B8). | |
| Female | 250-550g (B3); 8.6-19.4 ounces (B8). | |
| Newly-hatched weight | -- | |
| Growth rate | -- | |
| Adult | Bill | Male | Blackish, with pale grey subterminal line and base (B2, B5, B25). |
| Variations (If present) | Female: blackish, with dull grey-green area at base (B2, B5, B25). | ||
| Eyes (Iris) | Male | Brown (B2, B5, B25). | |
| Variations(If present) | -- | ||
| Juvenile | Bill | Blackish (B5) | |
| Eyes (Iris) | Brown (B5, B25). | ||
| Adult | Male | Olive brown, webs blackish (B2, B5, B25). |
| Variations (If present) | -- | |
| Juvenile | Olive brown, webs blackish (B5, B25). | |
| Adult | Male | Head and neck grey with fine white barring, brown-black patch around eye and trailing towards nape; long feathers on nape form short crest. Upperparts dark grey-brown with distinct paler spotting, underparts paler grey-brown with narrow darker barring. Tail pale grey-buff. Primaries and secondaries plain silver-grey (no iridescent speculum) (B2, B5, B8, B25). |
| Variations (If present) | Female:- nape crest slightly shorter (B1, B2, B25). | |
| Juvenile | Similar to adults but duller, with markings less distinct (B1, B2, B5, B25). | |
Newly-hatched Characteristics |
| General: Upperparts
brown-grey, with white markings (typical mallard-type pattern); underparts
including sides of face pale greyish, with dark eyestripe (B1, B2, B5, B26). Bill: Green-grey (B2, B5, B26). Feet: Green-grey (B2, B5, B26). |
Reproductive Season |
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| Time of year | Begin May to early July (B1, B2, B5, B26). | |
| No. of Clutches | One (B2). | |
Nest placement and structure |
| On ground not far from water, concealed in clumps of reeds, rushes or grass, sometimes with a tunnel-like approach, a shallow depression lined with grass and down; also on reed-roofed huts (B1, B2, B3, B5, B8, B26). |
Egg clutches |
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| No. of Eggs | Average | -- |
| Range | 7-14 (B1, B2); 10-12 (B8). | |
| Egg Description | Creamy or pale straw (B3, B8); size: 46x32mm, weight: 31g (B3). | |
| 25-27 days (B1, B2, B8). |
| Synchronous. |
| 55-56 days (B8). |
Sexual Maturity |
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| Males | One year old (B1, B2). |
| Females | One year old (B1, B2). |
Feeding Behaviour |
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| Adults | Mud-filter from shore, dabble, up-end, occasionally dive, rarely feed on stubble areas (B1, B2, B25, B26). |
| Newly-hatched | -- |
Parental Behaviour |
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| Nest-building | Solitary or loose groups, built by female (B1, B2, B25). |
| Incubation | By female; male usually deserts during incubation (B2, B3) |
| Newly-hatched | By female, with downies brooded initially, but some males may remain with brood (B2, B8). |
| Juveniles | -- |
Social Behaviour |
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| Intra-specific | Usually in pairs or small groups, sometimes larger flocks in winter (B5, B25, B26). |
| Inter-specific | -- |
Sexual Behaviour |
| Strong seasonal monogamous pair bonds formed in winter before moving to breeding waters; males frequently desert during incubation but pair may re-form in autumn or winter (B2, B3, B8, B25). |
Predation in Wild |
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| Loaf on emergent vegetation or partially submerged branches in the shade during the day (B2, B8, B25). | |
| Circadian | Most active evening and early morning (B8). |
| Mainly vegetarian, aquatic plants (seeds, roots, tupers, green parts); also aquatic insects, larvae, molluscs, worms (B1, B2, B26). |
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Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.) |
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| Normal | Southern Spain and northern Africa, through Middle East, as far east as extreme western China. Fragmented distribution (B1, B2, B19). Dispersive, partly migratory. Winters in Mediterranean basin, north and sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East, north-western India (B1, B19). |
| Occasional and Accidental | Accidentals recorded in Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Greece, Rumania, Italy, Portugal, Lebanon, Cyprus, Malta, Madeira (B2). Records in western Europe presumed to be escapes (B1). |
| Introduced | -- |
| Fresh and brackish shallow pools, boggy lakes and marshes with abundant vegetation, within lowland arid country; in winter uses larger more open waters and temporary pools (B1, B2, B8, B19, B25, B26). |
Intraspecific variation |
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Conservation Status |
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| Wild Population - (Importance) |
Vulnerable. Declined greatly this century (B1, B8, B44.9.w1). |
| CITES listing | -- |
| Red-data book listing | Vulnerable (W2) |
| Threats | Habitat loss, hunting, possibly lead poisoning (B1, B8, B44.9.w1) |
Captive Populations |
| Common in collections (B8). |
| -- |
