Laysan Duck
Anas laysanensis
Critically EndangeredAves · Anseriformes · Anatidae
About
The Laysan duck, also known as the Laysan teal, and sometomes known by its Hawaiian name, koloa pōhaka, is a dabbling duck endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Fossil evidence reveals that Laysan ducks once lived across the entire archipelago, but today survive only on Laysan Island and two atolls. The duck has several physical and behavioral traits linked to the absence of ground-based predators in its habitat. By 1860, the ducks had disappeared from everywhere except Laysan Island. The introduction of European rabbits by guano miners at the end of the 19th century brought the bird to the brink of extinction in 1912, with twelve surviving individuals. Rabbits were eradicated from the island in 1923 and numbers of Laysan ducks began to rise, reaching 500 by the 1950s. In an effort to ensure the long-term future of this duck, 42 birds were translocated to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in 2002. These thrived in their new surroundings, and another group were later relocated to Kure Atoll.
Fun Fact
It is a member of the mallard clade of dabbling ducks, and is a highly unusual species, both behaviorally and genetically.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.
Diet
Feed on the lake from dusk til dawn, although there seems to be marked variation from year to year according to the availability of food items.
Lifespan
To be updated
Threats
- Habitat Destruction
- Pollution
- Invasive Species
- Over-Collection
- Climate Change