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Anatidae facts for kids

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Anatidae
Temporal range: Early Oligocene – recent
ברווזיים-01.jpg
Clockwise from top left: mallard, mute swan, Brazilian teal, paradise shelduck, bufflehead, and greylag goose
Scientific classification
Type species
Anas platyrhynchos
Linnaeus, 1758

Anatidae is the biological family of birds that includes the ducks, geese and swans.

These birds are adapted for swimming, floating on the water surface, and in some cases diving in at least shallow water.

The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, on all the world's continents except Antarctica and on most of the world's islands and island groups. The family contains around 146 species in 43 genera.

These are birds that are adapted for swimming, floating on the water surface, and in some cases diving.

Anatids are generally herbivorous as adults, feeding on various water-plants, although some species also eat fish, molluscs, or aquatic arthropods.

The anatids are generally seasonal and monogamous breeders.

A number of species do annual migrations.

A few species have been domesticated for agriculture, and many others are hunted for recreation food. Duck, eider, and goose feathers and down have long been popular for bedspreads, pillows, sleeping bags, and coats.

Since 1600, five species of ducks have become extinct due to the activities of humans, and subfossil remains have shown that humans caused numerous extinctions in prehistory. Today, many more are considered threatened.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anatidae para niños

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