Kauaʻi Conservation Atlas

Kauaʻi record · kba_bird_laysan_duck

Laysan Duck

Anas laysanensis

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Laysan Duck — Adults · male left, female right
Laysan Duck — Adults · male left, female right · OpenAI image generation; Atlas deterministic typesetting · AI-generated artwork; no third-party photograph reproduced · Image source

About Laysan Duck

Kauaʻi fossil material has been compared provisionally with Anas laysanensis. The comparison does not establish that the fossil belongs to the living species.

Kauaʻi evidence

A Hawaiʻi-level record is available, but the species needs a documented Kauaʻi observation before local ecological conclusions are drawn. Makauwahi reports Anas cf. laysanensis; cf. marks a provisional resemblance. The currently accepted species name is retained for the broader species account, but Kauaʻi fossil identity is not certain.

Occurrence evidence

fossil_qualified

Names and classification

Scientific name
Anas laysanensis
Common names
Laysan Duck
Family
Anatidae
Order
Anseriformes
Record type
Species

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence
Kauaʻi fossil attributed provisionally; species identity uncertain
Origin
Endemic
Conservation status
Endangered
Evidence date
2026-09-29
Evidence limits
Kauaʻi fossil material documented; comparison with the modern species is provisional

Habitat and ecology

Habitats
Wetlands · Taro fields · Ponds · Estuaries · Coastal habitat
Food and resource needs
Food and resources may include aquatic vegetation, seeds, algae, submerged plant material, aquatic invertebrates, mollusks, crustaceans, small fish, or planktonic prey according to foraging type
Reproduction
Suitable nesting or roosting sites, seasonal food, and protection from disturbance and predators.
Shelter
Shelter and structure within wetlands, taro fields, ponds.

Threats and conservation

Threats
Wetland condition, avian disease, survey detectability, and rare-record review are the relevant open questions
Conservation actions
Document date, place, observer, habitat, and supporting media · Confirm identification and Kauaʻi occurrence before local conservation use
Monitoring
Document date, place, observer, habitat, behavior, and supporting media for any Kauaʻi observation.
Data gaps
Confirm species identity of Kauaʻi fossil material · Reconstruct fossil context and chronology

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal timing
Rare Or Unresolved Hawaiian Waterbird Record Needs Kauai Review
Seasonal description
Kauaʻi fossil material has been compared provisionally with Anas laysanensis. The comparison does not establish that the fossil belongs to the living species.

Sources and further reading

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