Malagasy shelduck

The Malagasy shelduck (Alopochen sirabensis), also known as the Sirabe shelduck, is an extinct species of waterfowl in the shelduck subfamily, described from Late Pleistocene fossils found at Antsirabe in central Madagascar.^[1] It is related to the extant Egyptian goose, which is widespread in mainland Africa, and to the extinct Réunion and Mauritius shelducks from the Mascarene Islands.

Malagasy shelduck Temporal range: Holocene
Skull and limb fossils
Conservation status
Extinct
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Genus:	Alopochen
Species:	†A. sirabensis
Binomial name
†Alopochen sirabensis (Andrews, 1897)
Synonyms
Chenalopex sirabensis Andrews

The reason for the extinction of the Malagasy shelduck is unknown. Further findings in the Pleistocene sites of Ampasambazimba and Ampoza, and also in the Holocene site of Beloha (where remains were carbon dated to only 1380 ± 90 years BP, 480-660 CE), show that the species was once widespread in Madagascar, inhabiting different biomes, and that it survived the arrival of humans to the island.^[2][3]