Biology:Amazonetta cubensis
| Amazonetta cubensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Genus: | Amazonetta |
| Species: | †A. cubensis
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| Binomial name | |
| †Amazonetta cubensis Zelenkov, 2025
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Amazonetta cubensis (also known as the Cuban teal) is a species of duck in the family Anatidae that lived in Cuba during the Pleistocene epoch.[1] It is a relatively small species of duck similar in morphology to the extant Brazilian teal, however, the shaft was thinner and more steeply oriented.[2]
The scientific name of this species is referencing its occurrence in Cuba. The common name Cuban teal has been suggested because of this.[2]
Discovery
A complete humerus (PIN 5781/40) was discovered and given the classification of a new species. The fossil was discovered in western cuba in the El Abrón Cave strata which was dated to the late Pleistocene epoch.[1][2]
The evolutionary history and past diversity of ducks in the West Indies is largely unknown due to a poor fossil record of birds in the region. This makes the discovery of this species important for uncovering the history of ducks in this region.[1] The closest living ancestor of A. cubensis is a Brazilian species named Amazonetta brasiliensis (Brazilian teal). This has means that Amazonetta had a wider distribution during the late Quaternary period.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Zelenkov, Nikita (2025-05-09). "A new duck (Aves: Anatidae) from the Upper Pleistocene of Cuba" (in en). Zootaxa 5633 (1): 139–150. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5633.1.7. ISSN 1175-5334. https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5633.1.7.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Zelenkov, Nikita (2025-05-09). "Amazonetta cubensis Zelenkov, 2025, sp. nov.". doi:10.5281/zenodo.15372731. https://zenodo.org/records/15372731.
Wikidata ☰ Q134455141 entry
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