♫ Claire ♫
Malagasy Teal snoozes on a Giant Amazonian Lily!
Victoria amazonica is the largest of the Nymphaeaceae family of water lilies.The species has very large leaves, up to 3 m in diameter, that float on the water's surface on a submerged stalk, 7–8 m in length. The species was once called Victoria regia after Queen Victoria, but the name was superseded. V. amazonica is native to the shallow waters of the Amazon River basin, such as oxbow lakes and bayous. The flowers are white the first night they are open and become pink the second night. They are up to 40 cm in diameter, and are pollinated by beetles.
The Malagasy Teal is a light brown, wading duck, which feeds on seeds and insect larvae as it filters water through its bill in the shallows.
There are only about 1500 of these birds left in the wild and these are restricted to the coastal mangrove forest of Madagascar. Many coastal wetlands, previously home to the Teal, have been converted into paddy fields for rice production. This has brought the ducks into closer contact with humans and led to an increase in hunting.
Living Rainforest, Hampstead Norreys, Berkshire www.livingrainforest.org/
Malagasy Teal snoozes on a Giant Amazonian Lily!
Victoria amazonica is the largest of the Nymphaeaceae family of water lilies.The species has very large leaves, up to 3 m in diameter, that float on the water's surface on a submerged stalk, 7–8 m in length. The species was once called Victoria regia after Queen Victoria, but the name was superseded. V. amazonica is native to the shallow waters of the Amazon River basin, such as oxbow lakes and bayous. The flowers are white the first night they are open and become pink the second night. They are up to 40 cm in diameter, and are pollinated by beetles.
The Malagasy Teal is a light brown, wading duck, which feeds on seeds and insect larvae as it filters water through its bill in the shallows.
There are only about 1500 of these birds left in the wild and these are restricted to the coastal mangrove forest of Madagascar. Many coastal wetlands, previously home to the Teal, have been converted into paddy fields for rice production. This has brought the ducks into closer contact with humans and led to an increase in hunting.
Living Rainforest, Hampstead Norreys, Berkshire www.livingrainforest.org/