African Finfoot
A species of African Finfoot Scientific name : Podica senegalensis Genus : African Finfoot
African Finfoot, A species of African Finfoot
Botanical name: Podica senegalensis
Genus: African Finfoot
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Gunnar Creutz , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original
Description
The African finfoot is an underwater specialist with a long neck, a striking sharp beak, and bright red, lobed feet. The plumage varies by race, generally pale underneath and darker on top. The males are usually darker than the females. It superficially resembles South America's torrent duck.
Size
59 cm
Feeding Habits
African Finfoot has a varied diet, consuming invertebrates, small vertebrates, and occasional vegetation. It uses both aquatic and terrestrial foraging techniques, taking advantage of prey disturbed by larger animals and engaging in unusual behaviors like 'anting' for feeding.
Habitat
The habitat of african Finfoot typically includes permanent freshwater bodies like streams, pools, and lakes with dense vegetation along the banks, featuring reeds and overhanging branches. African Finfoot also resides within mangroves and flooded rainforests in forest zones and wooded savannas, adapting to various wetland environments across broader geographical regions.
Dite type
Aquatic invertebrate eater
General Info
Species Status
The African finfoot's conservation status is hard to determine, given its elusive nature. It is not considered threatened, as it is not persecuted or targeted by hunters, and while scarce, it is very widespread. However, there is concern that it may become threatened, as wetlands are cleared and watercourses altered and polluted. It is also thought to tolerate only minimal disturbance. This and increased habitat fragmentation mean that the species needs to be monitored to safeguard it. There are currently no African finfoots in captivity.
Photo By Gunnar Creutz , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original