Unggas air (Waterfowl)
Torrent Duck
Merganetta armata
- langka
- 45 km/h
- Risiko rendah
Surfs Andean whitewater rapids with stiff tail and streamlined body. Lives where most birds would drown.
- Populasi
- ~20,000–35,200 individuals total (13,300–23,500 mature individuals); population trend decreasing, with documented declines in NW Patagonia (Argentina) and suspected declines in Venezuela
- Habitat
- Fast-flowing, clear mountain rivers, streams, and torrents in the Andes — rapids, boulder-strewn gorges, and waterfalls, plus calmer stretches — from near sea level (in Chile) up to roughly 4,900 m elevation
- Fakta menarik
- The Torrent Duck is the sole member of its genus, Merganetta, and is a whitewater specialist that swims and dives through raging Andean rapids — even foraging behind waterfalls — yet is reluctant to fly more than short distances.
- Sebaran
- The Andes of western South America across seven countries — Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina — in six subspecies (three widely accepted: colombiana, leucogenis, armata; three disputed: berlepschi, garleppi, turneri), from the Santa Marta range of Colombia/Venezuela south to Tierra del Fuego
- Makanan
- Aquatic invertebrates — stonefly, mayfly, and caddisfly larvae, other insect larvae, molluscs, and crustaceans — with occasional small fish and terrestrial worms; competition from introduced trout reduces prey availability in some rivers
- Ukuran
- 0,445 m
- Masa hidup
- 8 tahun
