Being a field biologist is a lot like being a detective. Field biologists look for clues to help them learn about animals. Use the Field Guide to get to know the animals by clicking their pictures. Once you are familiar with the animals, click Animal Identification Challenge to test your rainforest detective skills.

African Pygmy Goose

Nettapus auritus

Size: 9-10 ounces (the smallest of all waterfowl!)

Diet: Mostly seeds and parts of water lilies, aquatic insects and larvae

Range: Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar

Habitat: Ponds, sluggish rivers or bays with lots of aquatic plants

Life span: Up to 15 years

Social organization: Social--sometimes found in flocks of thousands.

Threats to survival: Habitat destruction

Fun facts: This bird has a beak like a goose, but it is really a duck. Unlike most other waterfowl, it can perch on tree branches, and it builds its nest in cliffs, tree cavities or even in storks' nests. Males and females look different, but both have color patterns that help them blend in with lilies and other aquatic plants.