Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatidae)

Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata) - HBW 1, p. 599

French: Merganette des torrents German: Sturzbachente Spanish: Pato Torrentero
Other common names: Argentine/Chilean Torrent Duck (armata); Colombian Torrent Duck (colombiana); Peruvian Torrent Duck (leucogenis, turneri)

Taxonomy: Merganetta armata Gould, 1842, Andes of Chile, lat. 34° 35° S.
Taxonomic status of races leucogenis, turneri, garleppi and berlepschi unclear; may be better considered as colour morphs of a single subspecies (leucogenis), since birds resembling different races occur together on the same rivers in Peru. Six subspecies normally recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • colombiana Des Murs, 1845 - Andes from Venezuela to N Ecuador.
  • leucogenis (Tschudi, 1843) - Andes from C Ecuador to C Peru.
  • turneri P. L. Sclater & Salvin, 1869 - Andes of S Peru.

     See all 6 subspecies
  • colombiana Des Murs, 1845 - Andes from Venezuela to N Ecuador.
  • leucogenis (Tschudi, 1843) - Andes from C Ecuador to C Peru.
  • turneri P. L. Sclater & Salvin, 1869 - Andes of S Peru.
  • garleppi Berlepsch, 1894 - Andes of Bolivia.
  • berlepschi Hartert, 1909 - Andes of N Chile and NW Argentina.
  • armata Gould, 1842 - most of Andes of Chile and Argentina.
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