Systematics

Anas cana Gmelin, 1789, Systema Naturae 1(2):510. Type locality given as Cape of Good Hope (34 Gmelin, J.-F. (1789). Systema Naturae, per regna tria Natura: secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. 13th edition. Tome 1, pars II. Impensis George Emanuel Beer, Leipzig, Germany. Close ).

This species is sometimes placed in the genus Casarca, along with the Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata), and Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides), with the quartet being colloquially known as the ‘casarcas’ (35 Delacour, J. (1954). Waterfowl of the World. Volume 1. Country Life Books, London, UK. Close , 36 Carboneras, C. (1992). Family Anatidae (ducks, geese and swans). In Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 1 (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, Editors), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 536–628. Close ).

No information, but perhaps unlikely in such a mobile species.

Monotypic (36 Carboneras, C. (1992). Family Anatidae (ducks, geese and swans). In Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 1 (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, Editors), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 536–628. Close ).

The South African Shelduck’s closest extant relative is probably the Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) (37 Livezey, B. C. (1997). A phylogenetic analysis of modern sheldgeese and shelducks (Anatidae, Tadornini). Ibis 139(1):51–66. Close ), with which it has traditionally been considered to form a superspecies (38 Johnsgard, P. A. (1965). Handbook of Waterfowl Behavior. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, USA. Close , 36 Carboneras, C. (1992). Family Anatidae (ducks, geese and swans). In Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 1 (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, Editors), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. pp. 536–628. Close ).

Hybridizes in captivity with congenerics, and with Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca), Andean Goose (Oressochen melanopterus), and Upland Goose (Chloephaga picta) (39 McCarthy, E. M. (2006). Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom. Close ,40 Carboneras, C. (2020). South African Shelduck (Tadorna cana), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. Close ).

In isiZulu, the South African Shelduck is referred to as Idadelibomvu (41 Birdlife (2022). Checklist for South Africa in isiZulu. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa. Close ). In Sotho (Southern) it is Lefaloa (42 Lepage, D. Avibase: The World Bird Database. 2005-2016, https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/avibase.jsp. Accessed 22 February 2023. Close ). In Afrikaans, it is Kopereend, or Kopereend (Bergeend) (42 Lepage, D. Avibase: The World Bird Database. 2005-2016, https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/avibase.jsp. Accessed 22 February 2023. Close ).

Cana (Latin) means gray or hoary, in particular gray haired, in reference to the color of the male’s head.

Information needed.