Question-Answer

Canada Goose

1- What id the scientific name of your plant or animal?

The scientific name of the Canada Goose is Branta canadensis.

2- To which family doses it belong? Use the technical name that ends – idea or – aceae.

The Canada Goose belongs to family Anatidae.

3- What is the range (geographical distribution) of your species?

The native range or geographical distribution of the Canada Goose is the arctic and temperate regions of North America, and sometimes Europe. but it has also been introduced to the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands.

4- Where would you expect to fine one of your species? In other word, what habitat?

The Canada Goose is found in habitats associated with water, grassy fields and grain fields. This bird particularly like lawns, which supply easily digested food and a suitable site to protect the young from any predators. This is why these geese are often seen in parks and golf courses.

5- Did you find other common names for your species? What are they?

There are many common names other than Canada Goose. They include the bay goose, black-headed goose, calling goose, Canada brant, honker, long-necked goose, and the white-cheeked goose.

6- What is the phylum of your species? The botanists sometimes use the term division instead of phylum for plants.

The phylum for the Canada Goose is Chordata.

7- What are some diagnostic traits of your species? In other word, how can you distinguish it from its nearest relatives?

The nearest relative to the Canada Goose is the Cackling Goose – Branta huthinsii. At one time they were assumed to be one species. One of the best ways to tell them apart is by size because the Canada Goose is about twice the size of the Cackling Goose. Another way to tell them apart is that the Canada Goose has a deep, throaty honk, while the Cackling Goose has high-pitched squeaks and cackles. The Canada Goose also has a larger bill than the Cackling Goose.

8- What is an evolutionary adaptation of your species that help it survive?

An evolutionary adaptation of the Canada Goose is its bill. It is serrated along the edges which helps the goose to strain water. The front is adapted with ridges called lamellae, which it uses to cut kernels and clip grasses for food.

9- Give another interesting fact that you learned about your species.

Another interesting fact about the Canada Goose is that they are monagamous, meaning they only have one mate, throughout their lives unless their mate dies.

10- Name the kingdom of which your species belongs. For animal (not for plant), give also the name of the order to which it belongs.

The Canada Goose is in Kingdom Animalia and Order Anseriformes.

11- List below books you used to get your answer. You may use the Internet, but you still must cite three books. For the book, give the title, author(s), year published, city where published, call number, and pages(s) where you found some answers.

1)The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition. David Allen Sibley. 2014. New York, New York. ISBN: 978-0679451228. Pages 190-211.

2)Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Michael Hutchins, editor. “Canada Goose” J.A. Jackson, W.J. Bock and D. Olendorf. 2003. New York, New York. ISBN: 9780787653620. Pages 378-379.

3)North American Game Birds. Mike Hehner, Chris Dorsey, and Greg Breining. 1996. Minnetonka, Minnesota. ISBN:9780865730496. Pages 8-9.