About the Mauritius Shelduck
The Mauritius sheldgoose, also known as the Mauritius shelduck, is an extinct species of sheldgoose that was endemic to the island of Mauritius. While geese were mentioned by visitors to Mauritius in the 17th century, few details were provided by these accounts. In 1893, a carpometacarpus wing-bone and a pelvis from the Mare aux Songes swamp were used to name a new species of comb duck, Sarcidiornis mauritianus. These bones were connected to the contemporary accounts of geese and later determined to belong to a species related to the Egyptian goose and placed in the sheldgoose genus Alopochen. The Mauritius and Réunion sheldgoose may have descended from Egyptian geese that colonised the Mascarene Islands.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl (Anatidae) |
| Species | Alopochen mauritiana |
| Species Codes | maushe1, MASH |
| Conservation | extinct |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Mauritius Shelduck belong to?
The Mauritius Shelduck (Alopochen mauritiana) belongs to the Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl family (Anatidae), in the order Anseriformes.
How can I identify the Mauritius Shelduck?
The Mauritius sheldgoose, also known as the Mauritius shelduck, is an extinct species of sheldgoose that was endemic to the island of Mauritius. While geese were mentioned by visitors to Mauritius in the 17th century, few details were provided by these accounts. In 1893, a carpometacarpus wing-bone ...
Where can I report a Mauritius Shelduck sighting?
You can log sightings of Mauritius Shelduck on eBird (ebird.org) using species code maushe1, or on iNaturalist.