Magpie goose

The magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata) is the sole living representative species of the family Anseranatidae. This common waterbird is found in northern Australia and southern New Guinea.[2] As the species is prone to wandering, especially when not breeding, it is sometimes recorded outside its core range.[2] The species was once also widespread in southern Australia, but disappeared from there largely due to the drainage of the wetlands where the birds once bred. The Kunwinjku of western Arnhem Land know this bird as Manimanuk. It became an important food item with the formation of wetlands about 1500 ya, and is depicted in rock art from this period. Mimi figures are often shown holding goose-feather fans (Goodfellow & Stott, 2001; 2005).