SynonymsBot
Synonyms for backed_duck_thalassornis or Related words with backed_duck_thalassornis
leuconotus_egyptian_goose_alopochen
tailed_wheatear_oenanthe_leucopyga
asiatica_zenaida_dove_zenaida
aegyptiacus_spur_winged
necrosyrtes_monachus_egyptian_vulture
nettapus_auritus_african
goose_plectropterus_gambensis_knob
melanotos_hartlaub_duck_pteronetta
duck_anas_sparsa
throated_robin_irania
billed_duck_sarkidiornis
maurus_whinchat
necrosyrtes_monachus
gypohierax_angolensis_hooded_vulture
headed_lapwing_vanellus_albiceps
family_sarothruridae
myioparus_plumbeus
white_winged_redstart
crithagra_sulphuratus
bellied_kingfisher_corythornis
phoenicurus_erythrogaster
duck_sarkidiornis_melanotos
headed_lapwing_vanellus_tectus
aurita_mourning
naped_pigeon_columba
daurian_redstart_phoenicurus_auroreus
gracupica
schuettii
dendrocygna_viduata
elminia_nigromitrata
throated_laughingthrush_garrulax
heron_egretta_ardesiaca_intermediate
lr_lc_genus_mungos
vocifer_palm_nut_vulture
cheeked_tit
slate_colored_seedeater
spotted_flufftail_sarothrura_pulchra
gutturalis_rufous_tailed
leucocephala_asian_openbill
billed_barbet
africanus_rüppell_vulture_gyps
magnirostris_harris_hawk_parabuteo
throated_redstart
tauraco_livingstonii
helogale_parvula_lr_lc
monasa_morphoeus
collared_seedeater_sporophila_torqueola
saxicola_rubetra_european
capped_heron_pilherodius
throated_crake
Examples of "backed_duck_thalassornis"
The white-
backed
duck
("
Thalassornis
leuconotus") is a waterbird of the family Anatidae. It is distinct from all other ducks, but most closely related to the whistling ducks in the subfamily Dendrocygninae, though also showing some similarities to the stiff-tailed ducks in the subfamily Oxyurinae. It is the only member of the genus "Thalassornis".
Eight species of whistling duck are currently recognized in the genus "Dendrocygna". However, Johnsgard considers the white-
backed
duck
("
Thalassornis
leuconotus") from Africa and Madagascar to be distinct ninth species, a view first proposed in 1960 and initially supported by behavioral similarities. Later, similarities in anatomy, duckling vocalizations, and feather proteins gave additional support. Molecular analysis in 2009 also suggested that the white-backed duck was nested within the whistling duck clade. In addition to the extant species, subfossil remains of an extinct, undescribed species have been found on Aitutaki of the Cook Islands.
Altogether, however, the only thing that seems clear is that the musk ducks probably are not part of the stiff-tailed ducks in the strict sense, but rather represent a not-too-distantly related lineage that is highly convergent as regards their hind limb anatomy. These two are probably part of a very ancient radiation of Gondwanan (often Australian) waterfowl, including such forms as the Cape Barren goose ("Cereopsis"), the coscoroba swan ("Coscoroba"), the freckled duck ("Stictonetta") which once was placed in the Oxyurinae, or the pygmy geese ("Nettapus"), but the exact relationships between these lineages remains unresolved. For example, the African white-
backed
duck
("
Thalassornis
") also shows some similarities to "Oxyura", but again, this may be yet another case of convergent evolution.