Meller's duck: A threatened species receives recognition at last

Wetland areas of Madagascar, increasingly threatened by extensive habitat m odification, contain many little known endemic species. One of these specie s, Meller's duck (Anas melleri), is restricted to the eastern slope of the central highlands but for many years was just considered a recent island is olate of the widespread common mallard (A. platyrhynchos) and, therefore, n ot worthy of protection. Phylogenetic analysis, based on mitochondrial d-lo op DNA sequences, indicates that Meller's duck is distinct from the mallard and from its nearest geographical congener, the yellow-billed duck (A. und ulata) and may have evolved from a non-dimorphic ancestor, the African blac k duck (A. sparsa). A decline in numbers of the Near-Threatened Meller's du ck highlights the need for adequate protection for Madagascar's wetlands.