Hartlaub's Ducks Pteronetta hartlaubii feeding on elephant dung

Citation

Turkalo A, Inkamba-Nkulu C & Maisels F (2003) Hartlaub's Ducks Pteronetta hartlaubii feeding on elephant dung. Malimbus, 25 (1), pp. 61-64. http://malimbus.free.fr/articles/V25/25061064.pdf

Abstract
First paragraph: Hartlaub's Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii is a large forest duck that is common in the rivers, streams and smaller lakes of central Africa. It is valuable to museum collectors (F. Duckworth, pers. comm. ) and is large-bodied enough to warrant being hunted for food: it is classed as Near-threatened (BirdLife International 2000). Little is known of its habits: a nest has never been found, although BaAka pygmies in Central Africa say that it builds its nest on the ground on the edges of small streams in thick vegetation. It is thought to feed mostly on insects and other animal material, although seeds have also been reported (Brown et al. 1982). This note describes Hartlaub's Ducks using elephant dung as a food source.

Journal
Malimbus: Volume 25, Issue 1

People

Professor Fiona Maisels

Honorary Professor, Biological and Environmental Sciences