Aythya innotata
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madagascar_pochard
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Madagascar Pochard faces imminent extinction due to severe habitat degradation of its freshwater wetland ecosystems. Introduced fish species have disrupted the aquatic food webs this diving duck depends upon, while agricultural expansion and sedimentation have destroyed critical breeding and foraging areas. The species was thought extinct until a small population was rediscovered in 2006, but continues to decline due to ongoing wetland destruction and invasive species pressure.
Habitat
The Madagascar Pochard inhabits freshwater lakes and marshes with emergent vegetation, particularly favoring deeper waters with submerged aquatic plants. This diving duck requires clean, fish-rich wetlands with suitable nesting sites among dense reed beds and floating vegetation.
