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Cape Barren Goose

The '''Cape Barren Goose''', '' Cereopsis novaehollandiae''
Etymology: ''Cereopsis'', "wax-like", from Latin ''cere-'', "wax", and Ancient Greek ''opsi-'', "appearance". This refers to the peculiar bill. ''novaehollandiae'', New Latin for "New Holland", an old name for Australia. is a large goose resident in southern Australia. These are bulky geese and their almost uniformly grey plumage, bearing rounded black spots, is unique. The tail and flight feathers are blackish and the legs are pink with black feet. The short, decurved black bill and green cere gives it a very peculiar expression. The Cape Barren Goose is 75-100 cm (30-40 in) long, weighs 3.1-6.8 kg (7-15 lbs) and has a 150-190 cm (59-75 in) wingspan; males are somewhat larger than females. This bird feeds by grazing and rarely swims. It is gregarious outside the breeding season, when it wanders more widely, forming small flocks. It is a most peculiar goose of uncertain affiliations (Sraml ''et al.'' 1996). It may either belong into the "true geese" and swan subfamily Anserinae or into the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae as distinct tribe (biology)|tribe '''Cereopsini''', or be separated, possibly including the prehistorically extinct flightless New Zealand Geese of the genus ''Cnemiornis'', in a distinct subfamily '''Cereopsinae'''. Indeed, the first bones of the New Zealand birds to be discovered were similar enough to those of the Cape Barren Goose to erroneously refer to them as "New Zealand Cape Barren Goose" (''"Cereopsis" novaezeelandiae''). A previous decline in numbers appears to have been reversed as birds in the east at least have adapted to feeding on agricultural land. The breeding areas are grassy islands off the Australian coast, where this species nests on the ground in colonies. It bears captivity well, quite readily breeding in confinement if large enough paddocks are provided. In Australia, 19th century explorers named a number of islands "Goose Island" due to the species' presence there. The smaller population of Cape Barren Goose in Western Australia is described as a subspecies, ''Cereopsis novaehollandiae grisea'', and named for the group of islands known as the Recherche Archipelago.

References

- Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- '''Madge''', Steve & '''Burn''', Hilary (1987): ''Wildfowl : an identification guide to the ducks, geese and swans of the world''. Helm Identification Guides|Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7470-2201-1
- '''Sraml''', M.; Christidis, L.; Easteal, S.; Horn, P. & Collet, C. (1996): Molecular Relationships Within Australasian Waterfowl (Anseriformes). ''Australian Journal of Zoology'' '''44'''(1): 47-58. (HTML abstract)

Footnotes

External links

- BirdLife Species Factsheet Category:Geese Category:Cereopsis Category:Genera of birds Category:Birds of South Australia Category:Birds of Tasmania Category:Birds of Western Australia

Related Images

- ''C. novaehollandiae, nesting''

Sources: StartLearningNow, Wikipedia | Usage license: GNU FDL

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