Mergus

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iTypical mergansers

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Genus:	Mergus Linnaeus, 1758

Species

M. australis (extinct)
M. merganser
M. octosetaceus
M. serrator
M. squamatus

Mergus<ref> Etymology: Latin mergus, a catchall term for sea-going birds (see Arnott, 1964)</ref> is a genus of ducks in the seaduck subfamily Merginae. For an overview of the duck, goose and swan family of birds, see Anatidae.

Although they are seaducks, most of the mergansers prefer riverine habitats, only Red-breasted Merganser being common on the sea. These large fish-eaters have serrated edges to their bills to help them grip their prey. Along with the Smew and Hooded Merganser, they are therefore often known as "sawbills".

[edit] Species

Auckland Islands Merganser, Mergus australis (extinct, c.1902)
Common Merganser, Mergus merganser
Brazilian Merganser, Mergus octosetaceus
Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator
Chinese Merganser, Mergus squamatus

Fossil species that have been described are Mergus miscellus from the Middle Miocene Calvert Formation (c. 14 mya, Barstovian) of Virginia, USA and Mergus connectens (Middle Pleistocene of C Europe or somewhere between 800.000 and 125.000 years ago). An undescribed fossil merganser is documented from the Middle Miocene Sajóvölgyi Formation (Late Badenian, 13-12 mya) of Mátraszõlõs, Hungary.