Andean goose
| Andean goose | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Subfamily: | Tadorninae |
| Genus: | Neochen |
| Species: | N. melanoptera |
| Binomial name | |
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Neochen melanoptera (Eyton, 1838) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Chloephaga melanoptera |
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Chloephaga melanoptera
The Andean goose (Neochen melanoptera) is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is also known as the Huallata. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae.
It is resident around lakes and marshes in the high Andes, usually well above 3000 m. It is largely terrestrial and avoids swimming except in emergencies.
This heavily built bird has a tiny pink bill and white plumage except for black in the wings and tail. The female is similar to the male, but is smaller.
The Andean goose is a grazing species, eating grasses. It nests on the ground in a bare scrape near water, laying 6-10 eggs. It is territorial in the breeding season, but otherwise forms small flocks.
It had been considered a member of the genus Chloephaga, but recent studies suggest placement in the genus Neochen.
Andean geese (N. melanoptera) have developed a mutation in their hemoglobin that has led to a vast increase in hemoglobin-oxygen affinity. More specifically, Hiebl et al. found that N. melanoptera has developed mutations that lead to five amino-acid substitutions in the alpha-chain and five substitutions in the beta-chain of their hemoglobin. A particular substitution in the N. melanoptera beta-chain has led to the elimination of a Van der Waals interaction between the alpha-chain and the beta-chain. This has destabilized the T-state (the deoxygenated state of hemoglobin), which has led to a higher affinity for being in the R-state (oxygenated state of hemoglobin). Overall, this mutation increases the hemoglobin-oxygen affinity of N. melanoptera.
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