Kingdom Animalia Order Anseriformes Subfamily Tadorninae Scientific name Chloephaga melanoptera Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Family Anatidae Genus Neochen Higher classification Sheldgoose | |
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Similar Sheldgoose, Bird, Ashy‑headed goose, Blue‑winged goose, Puna teal | ||
Andean goose 2
The Andean goose (Neochen melanoptera) is a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is also known as the Huallata. It is in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae.
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It is resident around lakes and marshes in the high Andes, usually well above 3000 m. It is largely terrestrial and avoids swimming except in emergencies.
This heavily built bird has a tiny pink bill and white plumage except for black in the wings and tail. The female is similar to the male, but is smaller.
The Andean goose is a grazing species, eating grasses. It nests on the ground in a bare scrape near water, laying 6-10 eggs. It is territorial in the breeding season, but otherwise forms small flocks.
It had been considered a member of the genus Chloephaga, but recent studies suggest placement in the genus Neochen.
Andean goose chloephaga melanoptera
Physiology and hemoglobin adaptation
Andean geese (N. melanoptera) have developed a mutation in their hemoglobin that has led to a vast increase in hemoglobin-oxygen affinity. More specifically, Hiebl et al. found that N. melanoptera has developed mutations that lead to five amino-acid substitutions in the alpha-chain and five substitutions in the beta-chain of their hemoglobin. A particular substitution in the N. melanoptera beta-chain has led to the elimination of a Van der Waals interaction between the alpha-chain and the beta-chain. This has destabilized the T-state (the deoxygenated state of hemoglobin), which has led to a higher affinity for being in the R-state (oxygenated state of hemoglobin). Overall, this mutation increases the hemoglobin-oxygen affinity of N. melanoptera.