The Puna teal (Spatula puna) is a species of dabbling duck in the family Anatidae. It was at one time regarded as a subspecies of the Silver teal (Spatula versicolor).
The Puna teal is resident in the Andes of Peru, western Bolivia, northern Chile, and extreme northwestern Argentina. It is found on the larger lakes and pools in the altiplano.
The status of the Puna teal is Least Concern, as listed on the IUCN Red List. It was at one time considered a subspecies of the Silver teal in the genus Anas.
A molecular phylogenetic study comparing mitochondrial DNA sequences published in 2009 found that the genus Anas, as then defined, was non-monophyletic. This resulted in the split of the genus into four monophyletic genera with ten species, including the Puna teal, which moved into the resurrected genus Spatula. This marked the change of the Puna teal from a subspecies into a monotypic species. The genus Spatula was originally proposed by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie in 1822. The name Spatula is the Latin for a "spoon" or "spatula".<!--Job p. 361--> The specific epithet puna is from the Puna de Atacama, a plateau in the Andes.
Description
left|thumb|At [[WWT Slimbridge, England]]
Appearance
The Puna teal is larger than its closely related species, the Silver teal (Spatula versicolor). It measures about 48 cm (19 in) long, similar in size to a wood duck. Males typically weigh between 546 to 560 g and have a wingspan of 215-235 mm. Their bill is 47-53 mm long, compared to 37-41 mm in S. versicolor.
Anatomy and Physiology
As a high-altitude resident waterfowl, Puna teals show morphological adaptations in their respiratory systems compared to lower-elevation species. Studies on Lake Titicaca found that the Puna teal has larger mass-specific volumes of the lungs, secondary bronchi, parabronchi, and gas exchange tissues. They also have a higher proportion of blood vessels in their lungs. Their adapted respiratory structure allows for more efficient oxygen uptake, likely as an evolutionary response to living at high altitudes.
Habitat and Distribution
The Puna teal is a non-migratory bird native to the Neotropical realm of South America. Its range is confined to the Puna zone of the Andes Mountains, extending from central Peru (around the Junín region) southward through western Bolivia, northern Chile (as far south as Antofagasta), and into the extreme northwest of Argentina (Jujuy Province). It inhabits various freshwater wetland types, favoring weakly alkaline lakes, swamps, and bogs with abundant floating vegetation, particularly the aquatic plant genus Chara.
Mating and Reproduction
thumb| Anas puna - [[MHNT|242x242px]]The first breeding event usually occurs at one year old.
Migration
Puna teals are mainly non-migratory, sedentary birds, but they carry out altitudinal shifts outside their breeding season, descending from their breeding locations in the high Andes to lower elevations in response to decreased resource abundance. During these periods, individuals can be observed in lowlands and occasionally along the coast of Peru.
Conservation
Population and Threats
The Puna teal is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Additionally, some populations face pressure from hunting.