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The Biology and Relationships of the Torrent Duck

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The Biology and Relationships of the Torrent Duck The biology and relationships of the Torrent Duck PAUL A. JOHNSGARD 1 Summary On the basis of field observations of five of the six described forms of Torrent Ducks, it is con­ cluded that only a single species of Merganetta should be recognized, and that probably no more than three subspecies exist, armata armata, colombiana and leucogenis; turneri, garleppi and berlepschi are believed to represent variants of leucogenis. The genus Merganetta should either be placed in the perching-duck tribe Cairinini or given separate tribal status and placed adjacent to the Cairinini. Although the Torrent Duck Merganetta behavioral and ecological findings of the armata occupies a vast geographic range trip; the taxonomic problems involved are extending some 5000 miles from the too great to allow anything more than cordilleras of northwestern Venezuela to preliminary conclusions at this time. This Tierra del Fuego, the species’ ecological paper follows the taxonomic interpretation distribution is limited to the torrential of Delacour and Mayr (1945) and Delacour streams that originate in the high Andes (1954), which assumes a single species of and flow downward into the major river Merganetta. It should be noted, however, systems of both the Atlantic and Pacific that earlier authors accepted as many as drainages. Its altitudinal distribution varies five (Phillips 1926) or six (Salvadori 1895) with latitude and local conditions, but the species. Conover (1943), who undertook upper limits appear to occur at elevations the only thorough specimen analysis to where the streams become too small to date, concluded that three species (colom­ provide adequate foraging opportunities, biana, leucogenis and armata) and three ad­ while the lower limits are probably deter­ ditional subspecies (of leucogenis) should mined by diminishing stream gradients, be recognized. He based these conclusions since the larger and slower rivers lack the on the considerable differences in the male- falls, rapids, and emergent rocks which are plumage patterns and on the well-marked the heart of the Torrent Duck’s habitat geographic separation of the three major requirements. It is not surprising, there­ population groups, although the latter fact fore, that few biologists have seriously would today be regarded as an argument in attempted to study this remarkable bird, favor of considering the forms as sub- for in most parts of South America its species. Phillips and Salvadori regarded favored habitats can be reached only with the Torrent Duck as a unique form, difficulty, and even under the best of comprising the subfamily Merganettinae conditions the birds are never abundant together with the genera Hymenolaimus and are usually extremely wary. As a and Salvadorina (= Anas waigiuensis). result, much uncertainty has existed Delacour and Mayr (1945) separated the concerning the biology of the Torrent genus in a monotypic tribe Merganettini, Duck, not only as to its ecology and but Niethammer’s (1952) anatomical study behavior, but also regarding the evolu­ convinced Delacour (1954) that Merganetta tionary relationships of Merganetta to other should be included in the dabbling-duck Anatidae and even as to the number of tribe Anatini. More recently, however, taxonomic subunits (species or sub- Woolfenden (1961) has urged that a tribal species) within the genus. distinction for Merganetta be retained. Because of these several uncertainties, a trip to South America was made for the Appearance primary purpose of investigating as many In life the Torrent Duck is a singularly as possible of the six described populations beautiful bird, without close similarity to of Merganetta, comparing details of any other anatid with the possible exception appearance, behavior and ecology, and of the Salvadori’s Duck Anas waigiuensis. attempting to resolve at least some of the Both species are slim-bodied and long­ more obvious deficiencies in our know­ tailed but, while the Torrent Duck’s ledge of the Torrent Duck. This trip, from rectrices are distinctly stiffened and slightly 4th July to 28th August, 1965, included decurved and are used for support when stops in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Chile, climbing on slippery rocks, this adaptation where five of the six populations (all but is lacking in the Salvadori’s Duck. How­ the Argentine Torrent Duck) were ob­ ever, both species doubtless use their long served. This paper is a summary of the tails for underwater maneuvering. 1 Studies (No. 374) from the Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Drawings by the author. Photographs in Photographic Section I. 66 THE WILDFOWL TRUST Another unusual feature of the Torrent Peruvian race (M. a. leucogenis) is more Duck which is barely indicated in Salva­ distinctly striped below, although at least dor’s Duck is the presence of a bony spur in eastern Peru near Lake Junín there is at the carpal joint, or ‘wrist’. Adults of distinct variation in the degree of mantle both sexes exhibit this feature, although the and underpart patterning (Phillips 1926). spurs are longer on adult males. Unlike In the Cuzcan Andes the Turner’s Torrent the similar spurs of the Spur-winged Goose Duck (M. a. turneri) reputedly has the most Plectropterus gambensis they are not exten­ uniformly dark body of all the races, with sions of the radial bone (Rand 1954), but black flanks and breast, and black mantle rather are somewhat flexibly attached to feathers that are brown-edged. However, the first metacarpal. The use to which of at least eleven different males seen by these spurs are put is still questionable, me in the Cuzco area (three skins, eight or since through its habitat preference the more different wild males observed closely), Torrent Duck is well protected from most only one bird was almost as dark as the type terrestrial predators, and no intraspecific specimen (illustrated in Phillips 1926). fighting among males has been noted to my The remaining birds varied greatly, but knowledge. There is no evidence that the most of them could not be readily dis­ spurs are used as an aid in climbing rocks, tinguished from leucogenis males (see as has been suggested. photo section). These variations in bodily Females of all the populations are similar melanism must certainly have minor in appearance, and are a rich ochraceous genetic significance, since the darkest male brown below the gray above, totally observed was found in Huarocondo canyon, lacking the barring of typical female where at least four other lighter-colored dabbling ducks. The Colombian race males were resident in a six-kilometer river differs from the others slightly in that the distance. In Bolivia (M. a. garleppi) the gray of the head and neck does not extend males likewise very closely approach typical so far downward, and the body color may leucogenis, supposedly differing from it in be slightly paler. When swimming, females having white, rather than brownish, edging are often very difficult to see, since only the to the mantle feathers. However, this gray dorsal surface is visible, but when distinction did not apply to four males perched on a rock the richly toned brown observed closely (one of which was col­ flanks and underparts are most con­ lected) on the Río Zongo. Although I did spicuous. As in males, the bright-red bill is not observe the Argentine race (M. a. also highly conspicuous. berlepschi), it is known that males are highly Males, unlike the females, differ variable in their underpart coloration markedly in different populations, and (Dabbene 1927). This race is also reported these plumage variations have been the to possess white edging on the mantle basis for taxonomic discriminations. In all feathers, which, if true, would help to populations, however, the head patterning distinguish it from leucogenis, and suggest is very similar; a black ocular stripe some affinities with the Chilean race (M. a. extends back from the eye to the occipital armata), although there is a considerable region where it branches and continues geographic gap between these populations down the sides and back of the neck. (Johnson 1963). This last race is the most This stripe does not actually merge with distinctive of all, with definitely white- the crown stripe that extends back from edged mantle feathers, brown flanks, and the base of the bill (see photo section), black underparts extending up the throat although in the Chilean Torrent Duck the to the bill and eyes. In short, it would black striping extends down from the eyes appear that there exists a light-colored and merges with a black throat and neck. and fairly uniform northern population This general increase in melanism toward (colombiana), a melanistic and fairly uniform the south is accompanied by a darkening population (armata), and several highly of the legs , from a bright carmine similar variable intermediate populations with to that of the bill in the Colombian race to varying degrees of underpart melanism a dusky red, and a blackish culmen area and white to brown mantle edging. Con­ also appears on the red bill in the more over (1943) recognized this intermediate southerly forms. group as a distinct species (leucogenis) con­ Body plumages of the males differ sisting of four subspecies, but considering greatly between populations, and have the individual variation I observed in the caused much taxonomic confusion. The Colombian race (M. a. colombiana) exhibits Cuzco area and reported elsewhere by the least melanism, having the breast and Dabbene and Phillips, I would suggest that underparts nearly a pure white, with only only a single race, leucogenis, should be light-gray striping, and the edging of the recognized. Besides the marked gap sep­ mantle feathers is a light brown. The arating this central group from the Chilean TORRENT DUCK 67 race, there is probably also a gap in north­ rent Ducks were found between the ern Peru and Ecuador separating it from elevations of 1500 and 2500 meters on colombiana (Conover 1943).
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