#neochen

Orinoco Goose (Neochen jubata), family Anatidae, order Anseriformes, found in much of central and northern South America

Andean Geese, by Arpingstone, in the Public Domain

PLEASE SUPPORT US ON PATREON. EACH and EVERY DONATION helps to keep this blog running! Any amount, even ONE DOLLAR is APPRECIATED! IF YOU ENJOY THIS CONTENT, please CONSIDER DONATING!

Name: Neochen 

Status: Extant

First Described: 1918

Described By: Oberholser

Classification: Dinosauria, Saurischia, Eusaurischia, Theropoda, Neotheropoda, Averostra, Tetanurae, Orionides, Avetheropoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Pennaraptora, Paraves, Eumaniraptora, Averaptora, Avialae, Euavialae, Avebrevicauda, Pygostylia, Ornithothoraces, Euornithes, Ornithuromorpha, Ornithurae, Neornithes, Neognathae, Galloanserae, Anseriformes, Anseres, Anatoidea, Anatidae, Tadorninae 

Species: N. pugil (extinct), N. debilis (extinct), N. barbadiana (extinct), N. jubata (Orinoco Goose, extant), N. melanoptera (Andean Goose, extant) 

Andean Geese by Josue Hermoza, CC BY-SA 3.0

Neochen is a small genus of Shelducks that are, mistakenly, named Geese! These birds live entirely in South America, with two living species - the Orinoco Goose and the Andean Goose. Fossil evidence of this bird come from species known from the Middle to Late Pleistocene, so starting from around 1 million years ago, in the Calabrian age, with species obviously still around today. N. debilis is the earliest known species, living in Argentina, and it was quite small compared to living species. N. barbadiana is known from later in the Pleistocene and is known from Brazil and Argentina, and it was rather average in size. Finally, N. pugil lasted until the early Holocene, living in Brazil, and it actually grew to be much larger than the living Orinoco Goose. 

Orinoco Goose by BirdPhotos, CC BY 3.0 

The Orinoco Goose is a fairly rare bird, considered near threatened with extinction, known from the tropical forests in South America. It has a pale head and neck, with a reddish body and green-black wings, as well as pink legs and a black bill. The sexes are identical in color, with the males being larger; the juveniles, as per usual, are duller in color. They are very terrestrial and even perch in trees, rarely found flying. They are very territorial and nest in hollow trees, rather than on the ground. 

Andean Goose by Arpingstone, in the Public Domain 

The Andean Goose is slightly better fairing, not considered threatened with extinction. They live primarily in the Andes, usually above 3000 meters, and they are very terrestrial birds. They are heavily built, with white fronts of their bodies and black tails, with pink bills and eggs. They graze on grasses in their high environment, and actually has more efficient hemoglobin for better breathing in the low-oxygen environment they call home. They nest on the ground and are very territorial during the breeding season. 

Buy the author a coffee: http://ko-fi.com/kulindadromeus

Sources: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neochen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neochen_pugil 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neochen_debilis 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neochen_barbadiana

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orinoco_goose