Mergini
In this article we are going to delve into the fascinating world of Mergini. From its origins and evolution to its relevance in today's society, we will explore all the aspects that make Mergini a topic of interest and debate. We will learn about its different facets, its impact on our lives and its influence in the cultural and social sphere. Through a detailed analysis and a deep look, we will discover everything that Mergini has to offer and how it has marked a before and after in history. Get ready to immerse yourself in this exciting journey and discover all the facets that make Mergini a theme worth exploring.
| Sea ducks | |
|---|---|
| |
| Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (male) | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Subfamily: | Anatinae |
| Tribe: | Mergini Rafinesque, 1815 |
| Genera | |
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Clangula | |
The sea ducks (Mergini) are a tribe of the duck subfamily of birds, the Anatinae. The taxonomy of this group is incomplete. Some authorities separate the group as a subfamily, while others remove some genera. Most species within the group spend their winters near coastal waters. Many species have developed specialized salt glands to allow them to tolerate salt water, but these are poorly developed in juveniles. Some of the species prefer riverine habitats. All but two of the 22 species in this group live in far northern latitudes.
The fish-eating members of this group, such as the mergansers and smew, have serrated edges to their bills to help them grip their prey and are often known as "sawbills". Other sea ducks forage by diving underwater, taking molluscs or crustaceans from the sea floor. The Mergini take on the eclipse plumage during the late summer and molt into their breeding plumage during the winter.
Species
There are twenty-two species in ten genera:
| Image | Genus | Living species |
|---|---|---|
.jpg) |
Clangula Leach, 1819 |
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_(13022042595).jpg) |
Histrionicus Lesson, 1828 |
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_(13667583535).jpg) |
Polysticta Eyton, 1836 |
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 |
Somateria Leach, 1819 |
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.jpg) |
Melanitta F. Boie, 1822 |
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_RWD2.jpg) |
Bucephala S.F. Baird, 1858 |
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Mergellus Selby, 1840 |
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Lophodytes Reichenbach, 1853 |
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Mergus Linnaeus, 1758 |
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_-John_James_Audubon.jpg) |
†Camptorhynchus |
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Below is a phylogeny based on a mitogenomic study of the placement of the Labrador duck and the diving "goose" Chendytes lawi.[1]
| Mergini |
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References
- ^ Janet C. Buckner; Ryan Ellingson; David A. Gold; Terry L. Jones; David K. Jacobs (2018). "Mitogenomics supports an unexpected taxonomic relationship for the extinct diving duck Chendytes lawi and definitively places the extinct Labrador Duck". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 122: 102–109. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.12.008. PMID 29247849.