African Black Duck

SCI Name:  Anas sparsa
Protonym:  Anas sparsa Monogr.Anatidae p.142
Taxonomy:  Anseriformes / Anatidae / Anas
Taxonomy Code:  afbduc1
Type Locality:  South Africa.
Author:  Eyton
Publish Year:  1838
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

ANAS
(Anatidae; Ϯ Mallard A. platyrhynchos) L. anas, anatis  duck.  The Mallard is the wild ancestor of the farmyard duck and its many domesticated forms; "61. ANAS.  Rostrum lamelloso-dentatum, convexum, obtusum.  Lingua ciliata, obtusa." (Linnaeus 1758); "Anas Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat., ed. 10, p. 122. Type, by subsequent designation (Lesson, 1828, Man. Ornith., 2, p. 417), Anas boschas Linnaeus = Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus." (Johnsgard in Peters, 1979, I, ed. 2, p. 460).  Linnaeus's Anas comprised thirty-nine species (A. Cygnus, A. Cygnoid, A. Tadorna, A. spectabilis, A. fusca, A. nigra, A. Anser, A. erythropus, A. canadensis, A. cærulescens, A. Bernicla, A. mollissima, A. moschata, A. bahamensis, A. Albeola, A. clypeata, A. platyrhynchos, A. strepera, A. bucephala, A. Clangula, A. rustica, A. perspicillata, A. Glaucion, A. Penelope, A. acuta, A. hyemalis, A. ferina, A. Querquedula, A. Crecca, A. histrionica, A. minuta, A. Circia, A. autumnalis, A. Boschas, A. adunca, A. galericulata, A. Sponsa, A. arborea, A. Fuligula).    
Var. Annas, Anos, Anus, Asnas.   
Synon. Aethiopinetta, Afranas, Aldabranas, Archeoquerquedula, Boschas, Crecca, Dafila, Dafilonettion, Dafilula, Elasmonetta, Horizonetta, Melananas, Micronetta, Nesonetta, Nettion, Notonetta, Pachyanas, Paecilonitta, Phasianurus, Philippinetta, Polionetta, Trachelonetta, Virago, Xenonetta.

sparsa
L. sparsus  sprinkled, speckled, spattered  < spargere  to scatter.

SUBSPECIES

African Black Duck (leucostigma)
SCI Name: Anas sparsa leucostigma
leucostigma
Gr. λευκος leukos  white; στιγμα stigma, στιγματος stigmatos  spot  < στιζω stizō  to tattoo.

African Black Duck (sparsa)
SCI Name: Anas sparsa sparsa
sparsa
L. sparsus  sprinkled, speckled, spattered  < spargere  to scatter.