Dendrocygna arborea (Linnaeus, 1758)

West Indian Whistling-Duck; Yaguasa

Anas arborea Linnaeus, 1758, Syst. Nat. (Ed. 10), vol. 1, p. 128.

Referred material. San Felipe I: Distal half of right tibiotarsus, MNHNCu 75.4743; left tarsometatarsus with fragmentary distal end, MNHNCu 75.4744.

Description. These specimens are inseparable from the corresponding elements in the skeleton of the living species Dendrocygna arborea Linnaeus, 1758 .

Comments. First record of the West Indian Whistling-Duck in Cuban fossil deposits. This species is currently a common permanent resident in certain places of Cuba, Isla de la Juventud, and some cays, where it frequents marshes, mangroves, lagoons and rice paddies (Garrido & Kirkconnell 2011:57).