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- Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos
Identification
The Blue Duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchus) is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is the only member of the genus Hymenolaimus, placed in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae[citation needed] after previously being considered part of the paraphyletic "perching duck" assemblage. The Māori name is whio, which is an onomatopoetic rendition of the males' call.
Distribution
This 54 cm long species is an endemic resident breeder in New Zealand, nesting in hollow logs, small caves and other sheltered spots. It is a rare duck, holding territories on fast flowing mountain rivers.
