Bird · GBIF taxon 2474345
African Finfoot
Podica senegalensisAlso known as Peter's Finfoot
African finfoots live solitary lives hidden along the thickly vegetated margins of African rivers and streams. Their lobed, bright orange feet and slender bodies allow them to swim effortlessly through low branches and walk agilely over floating debris. When startled, they rarely take flight, opting instead to patter along the water surface into the safety of overhanging foliage.
AquaticSecretiveRiverine
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aquatic Insects
- Crustaceans
- Small Fish
Predators
- African Fish Eagle
- Nile Crocodile
- Nile Monitor
ThreatsHabitat loss, riverbank clearing, pollution, and dam construction
HabitatsForested rivers, wooded lake shores, and mangrove swamps
Life span8–12 years
Classification
- FamilyHeliornithidae
- SpeciesPodica senegalensis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Scanning the banks: Look under low, overhanging branches along river margins early in the morning.
- Paddling quietly: Drift slowly in a kayak or canoe to avoid startling birds hiding in dense cover.
Predator Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
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