# Talpanas

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Extinct genus of birds

Kaua'i mole duck Temporal range: Holocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N 4050 BCE (Holocene) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae Genus: †Talpanas Olson & James, 2009 Species: †T. lippa Binomial name †Talpanas lippa Olson & James, 2009

***Talpanas lippa***, the **Kauaʻi mole duck**,[1] is an [extinct](/source/Extinction) [species](/source/Species) of [duck](/source/Duck).[2] It was first described by [Andrew N. Iwaniuk](/source/Andrew_N._Iwaniuk), [Storrs L. Olson](/source/Storrs_L._Olson), and [Helen F. James](/source/Helen_Frances_James) in the journal *[Zootaxa](/source/Zootaxa)* in November 2009. [It is the only known member](/source/Monotypic_taxon) of the [genus](/source/Genus) ***Talpanas***. It was [endemic](/source/Endemism) to the [Hawaiian](/source/Hawaii) island of [Kauaʻi](/source/Kaua%CA%BBi) where the [fossil](/source/Fossil) remains were unearthed in the [Makauwahi Cave](/source/Makauwahi_Cave), [Maha‘ulepu](/source/Mahaulepu_Beach).[3] The [archaeological association](/source/Archaeological_association) of the bones is about 6000 years [BP](/source/Before_Present) (around 4050 BCE).[3]

## Etymology

The genus name *Talpanas* is taken from the [Latin](/source/Latin) word *talpa*, meaning [mole](/source/Mole_(animal)) and referring to the small size of the eyes, and the [Greek](/source/Greek_language) word *anas*, or duck. The species name *lippa* is from the Latin *lippus*, meaning "nearly blind".[2]

## Description

The [tarsometatarsi](/source/Tarsometatarsus) (lower leg bones) of *Talpanas lippa* were short and stout, and the [braincase](/source/Braincase) shallow and wide relative to its length. It had very small orbits (eye sockets) and also very small optic [foramina](/source/Foramen) (holes in the skull through which the optic nerves pass as they travel from the eyes to the brain). Together, these physical characteristics show that the eyes and [optic nerve](/source/Optic_nerve) of this duck were quite reduced in size, and it can be assumed that this species was probably both [blind](/source/Blindness) and [flightless](/source/Flightless_bird).[2] However, the maxillo-mandibular foramina (holes through which the [trigeminal nerve](/source/Trigeminal_nerve) passes) are extremely large, indicating larger nerves were travelling through it. The authors hypothesize that this blind, or nearly blind, duck would have used tactile and olfactory stimuli (the senses of [touch](/source/Somatosensory_system) and [smell](/source/Olfaction)) from its beak to explore its surroundings in the absence of good vision.[2]

The [holotype](/source/Holotype), a partial skull, is stored at the [Smithsonian Institution](/source/Smithsonian_Institution) with specimen number USNM 535683.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Julian Pender Hume, Michael Walters: *Extinct Birds*. A & C Black, London 2012. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [140815725X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/140815725X)., p 57

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Iwaniuk_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Iwaniuk_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Iwaniuk_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Iwaniuk_2-3) Iwaniuk, A. L.; Olson, S. L.; James, H. F. (November 24, 2009). ["Extraordinary cranial specialization in a new genus of extinct duck (Aves: Anseriformes) from Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands"](http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2009/f/zt02296p067.pdf) (PDF). *Zootaxa*. **2296**. Auckland, New Zealand: Magnolia Press: 47–67. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.11646/zootaxa.2296.1.3](https://doi.org/10.11646%2Fzootaxa.2296.1.3). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [4176091](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:4176091).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Burney_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Burney_3-1) Burney; et al. (2001). "Fossil evidence for a diverse biota from Kaua'i and its transformation since human arrival". *Ecological Monographs*. **71** (4). Washington, DC: Ecological Society of America: 615–641. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1890/0012-9615(2001)071\[0615:fefadb\]2.0.co;2](https://doi.org/10.1890%2F0012-9615%282001%29071%5B0615%3Afefadb%5D2.0.co%3B2). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0012-9615](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0012-9615).

v t e Genera of waterfowl and their extinct allies Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Clade: Neognathae Superorder: Galloanserae Avemetatarsalia see Avemetatarsalia Theropoda see Theropoda Maniraptora see Maniraptora Anserimorphae see below↓ Anserimorphae Anserimorphae †Conflicto †Gastornis? †Dromornithidae? †Pelagornithidae? †Vegaviidae? †Presbyornithidae Bumbalavis Headonornis? Murgonornis Presbyornis Proherodius Telmabates Teviornis Wilaru †Anachronornithidae Anachronornis Danielsavis? Anseriformes sensu stricto †Agnopterus? †Eonessa †"Headonornis"? †Naranbulagornis †Paakniwatavis †Palaeopapia †Peioa †Petropluvialis? †Proherodius? †Wunketru Anhimae †Chaunoides Anhimidae Anhima †Chainkanas Chauna Anseres Anseranatoidea †Anatalavis? Anseranatidae Anseranas †Anserpica †Eoanseranas Anatoidea †Paranyrocidae Paranyroca Anatidae See below ↓ Anatidae Anatidae †Aldabranas? †Allgoviachen †Ankonetta? †Awengkere †Bambolinetta? †Caerulonettion †Cayaoa? †Chelychelynechen? †Cousteauvia †Eonerornis? †Eutelornis? †Garganornis? †Helonetta? †Heteroanser? †Lavanttalornis †Loxornis? †Mioquerquedula? †Nogusunna? †Notochen †Proanser? †Protomelanitta? †Ptaiochen? †Selenonetta †Sharganetta? †Sinanas? †Tagayanetta †Talpanas? †Teleornis? †Thambetochen? †Wasonaka? †Romainvillinae Paracygnopterus Romainvillia Saintandrea Dendrocygninae Dendrocygna Thalassornis †Dendrocheninae Dendrochen Manuherikia Mionetta Stictonettinae Stictonetta Anserinae †Afrocygnus †Annakacygna Anser †Anserobranta †Asiavis †Bonibernicla Branta Cereopsis †"Chenopis" †Cnemiornis Coscoroba †Cygnavus Cygnus †Cygnopterus †Eremochen †Megalodytes †Paracygnus †Presbychen Tadorninae Alopochen †Australotadorna †Brantadorna Cairina †Centrornis Chloephaga Cyanochen Hymenolaimus †Kaikenia Merganetta †Miotadorna †Nannonetta Neochen Plectropterus †Pleistoanser Radjah Sarkidiornis Tachyeres Tadorna †Tamtamia Anatinae Aix Amazonetta †Anabernicula Asarcornis Biziura Callonetta †Chenoanas? Chenonetta †Dunstanetta †Eoneornis? †Lavadytis Lophonetta Malacorhynchus Marmaronetta Netta Nettapus †Pinpanetta Pteronetta †?Rhodonessa Salvadorina Speculanas Oxyurini Heteronetta Nomonyx Oxyura †Tirarinetta Mergini Bucephala †Camptorhynchus †Chendytes Clangula Histrionicus Lophodytes Melanitta Mergellus Mergus Polysticta †Shiriyanetta Somateria Anatini Anas Mareca †Matanas Sibirionetta Spatula Aythyini Aythya

Taxon identifiers Talpanas Wikidata: Q18643374 Wikispecies: Talpanas GBIF: 8519002 iNaturalist: 464567 IRMNG: 1478463 Open Tree of Life: 6151685

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