Bata

Mabata ni ndege wa maji wa familia ya Anatidae wenye madomo mafupi na mapana na miguu yenye ngozi kati ya vidole. Manyoya yao huwa na uwezo bora wa kufukuza maji kwa msaada wa mafuta maalumu. Mabata ndiyo moja ya familia za ndege ambazo spishi zao zina uume, kwa sababu mabata wanapandana majini tu.

Mabata huchanganywa pengine na aina kadhaa za ndege wa maji wasiohusiana wenye maumbo yanayofanana, kama wazamaji, vibisi, kukuziwa na shaunge.

Mofolojia 
Mwili wote wa mabata kwa ujumla ni mrefu na mpana, na mabata wengi kwa wastani wana shingo fupi lakini shingo la mabata bukini na mabata-maji ni ndefu. Umbo la mwili la mabata kwa kiasi fulani hutofautiana na hawa kwa kuwa kidogo wa duara kidogo. Miguu yenye magamba ni yenye nguvu na iliyokuwa vizuri, na kwa kawaida, na hurushwa nyuma kabisa ya mwili, hivyo zaidi hasa kwenye spishi za majini. Mbawa zake ni zenye nguvu na kwa ujumla ni ndogo na zilizochongoka, na kupaa kwa bata kunahitaji mapigo ya haraka bila ya kupumzika, hivyo kuhitaji misuli yenye nguvu sana. Hata hivyo spishi tatu za bata aina ya steamer hawawezi kuruka kabisa. Spishi nyingi za bata hushindwa kuruka vizuri kipindi cha kupukutisha manyoya ya zamani na kuotesha mapya; hutafuta mazingira salama yenye chakula kingi wakati huo. Hivyo basi kipindi hiki hufuata baada ya kipindi cha kuhama.

Ndege hawa wana rangi mbalimbali. Spishi kubwa hutafuta chakula aghalabu ardhini au kwa maji machache. Spishi ndogo nyingine hula mimea ya maji na huzamia kichwa chao tu, nyingine huzamia kabisa ili kukamata samaki, wanyamakombe au mimea ya maji, lakini spishi kadhaa hutafuta chakula ardhini. Hujenga matago yao ardhini, juu ya mwamba, ndani ya shimo la miti au ndani ya pango la sungura, mhanga, k.y.k.

Manyoya ya spishi kadhaa hupendwa sana kama kijazo cha mito, mifarishi, mafuko ya kulalia na makoti. Spishi nyingi za mabata hutumika kama chakula.

Wataalamu hawakubaliana kuhusu uainisho wa mabata ndani ya familia yao. Kuna ainisho mbalimbali na mmoja tu unaonyeshwa hapa:

Dendrocygninae: Mabata-miti 

Mabata wenye miguu mirefu ambao wanafanana na mabata bukini. Jenasi moja itokeayo kila mahali pa kufaa nchini kwa tropiki:
 Dendrocygna (spishi 9)

Thalassorninae: Kotwe 
Wana mnasaba na Dendrocygninae, lakini wanafanana na familia ndogo Oxyurinae. Jenasi moja kwa Afrika:
 Thalassornis (spishi 1)

Anserinae: Mabata-maji na mabata bukini 

Spishi 27 za mabata wakubwa ndani ya jenasi 7 ambazo zinatokea kanda za halijoto wastani hasa kaskazini mwa ikweta lakini spishi chache kusini mwa ikweta (spishi kadhaa, kama bata-maji domo-fundo, zimewasilishwa kwa Afrika):
 Coscoroba (Bata-maji wa Coscoroba, spishi 1)
 Cygnus (Mabata-maji, spishi 7, spishi 4 zimeainishwa pengini ndani ya jenasi Olor)
 Anser (Mabata bukini kahawia, spishi 7)
 Chen (Mabata bukini weupe, spishi 3)
 Branta (Mabata bukini weusi, spishi 8)
 Cereopsis (Bata Bukini wa Cape Barren, spishi 1, imeainishwa pengine ndani ya familia ndogo Tadorninae)
 Cnemiornis (Bata Bukini wa New Zealand, imekwisha sasa)

Stictonettinae: Bata madoadoa 

Jenasi moja kwa Australia ambayo ilikuwa imeainishwa zamani ndani ya Oxyurinae, lakini anatomia yake ionyesha mnasaba na Anserinae:
 Stictonetta (spishi 1)

Plectropterinae: Bata bukini mabawa-kijani 
Jenasi moja kwa Afrika ambayo ilikuwa imeainishwa zamani kama 'bata anayetua', lakini iko karibu zaidi na Tadorninae:
 Plectropterus (spishi 1)

Tadorninae: Mabata-shimo 

Jamii hii ya mabata makubwa wanaotokea mara nyingi nchini kavu ni kati ya Anserinae na Anatinae. Juzijuzi wataalamu wameainisha jenasi 10 na spishi 23 (moja imekwisha labda) ndani ya familia ndogo hii, nyingi zaidi kutoka kusini mwa ikweta:
 Sarkidiornis (Bata nyundo, spishi 1)
 Pachyanas (Chatham Island Duck, imekwisha sasa)
 Tadorna (shelducks, spishi 7, moja imekwisha yumkini)
 Malacorhynchus (Pink-eared Duck, spishi 1)
 Centrornis (Madagascar Sheldgoose, imekwisha sasa)
 Alopochen (Bata Bukini wa Misri, spishi 1 na spishi 3 zilizokwisha sasa)
 Neochen (Bata Bukini wa Orinoco, spishi 1)
 Chloephaga (sheldgeese, spishi 5)
 Cyanochen (Bata Bukini Bawa-buluu, spishi 1)
 Hymenolaimus (Bata Buluu, spishi 1)
 Merganetta (Torrent Duck, spishi 1)
 Tachyeres (steamer ducks, spishi 4)

Anatinae: Mabata wachovya na wazamaji na moa-nalo 

Jamii ya mabata wachovya ambao wanatokea sehemu zote duniani ilikuwa imeainishwa kwa jenasi mbili tu, lakini ina jenasi 8 sasa na spishi 55:
 Pteronetta (Bata-misitu, spishi 1)
 Cairina (Muscovy and White-winged Wood Ducks, spishi 2)
 Aix (Bata Mdogo wa China na Bata-msitu, spishi 2)
 Nettapus (Mabata Salili, spishi 3)
 Anas (Mabata Wachovya, spishi 40-45)
 Callonetta (Ringed Teal, spishi 1)
 Chenonetta (Bata-misitu wa Australia, spishi 1)
 Amazonetta (Bata wa Brasilia, spishi 1)

Jamii ya mabata wazamaji ambao wantokea sehemu zote duniani ina spishi 16 ndani ya jenasi 3. Marmaronetta ilikuwa imeainishwa zamani miongoni mwa mabata wachovya lakini inaainishwa hapa sasa.
 Marmaronetta (Bata Domo-jembamba, spishi 1)
 Netta (Mabata wazamaji, spishi 4, moja imekwisha yumkini)
 Aythya (Mabata wazamaji, spishi 12, moja imekwisha yumkini)
Jamii ya moa-nalo (jina kwa Kihawaii) ni ya pekee. Mabata hawa walitokea Hawaii lakini wamekwisha sasa. Walikuwa wakubwa sana na domo nene sana na walifanana na mabata bukini ambao hawakuweza kuruka angani. Walikuwa na mnasaba na jenasi Anas.
 Chelychelynechen (Moa-nalo Taya-kasa, imekwisha sasa)
 Thambetochen (Moa-nalo Domo-kuu, spishi 2, zimekwisha sasa)
 Ptaiochen (Moa-nalo Domo-dogo, imekwisha sasa)

Merginae: Mabata-bahari 

Familia ndogo hii ina spishi 20 (moja au mbili zimekwisha). Spishi nyingi zaidi zinatokea kaskazini mwa ikweta, lakini kuna spishi mbili za Mergus kusini mwa ikweta.
 Chendytes (Bata Bukini Mzamaji, imekwisha sasa)
 Polysticta (Steller's Eider, spishi 1)
 Somateria (eiders, spishi 3)
 Histrionicus (Harlequin Duck, spishi 1)
 Camptorhynchus (Bata wa Labrador, imekwisha sasa)
 Melanitta (scoters, spishi 3)
 Clangula (Bata Mkia-mrefu, spishi 1)
 Bucephala (goldeneyes, spishi 3)
 Mergellus (Bata-domomeno Mdogo, spishi 1)
 Lophodytes (Bata-domomeno Ushungi, spishi 1)
 Mergus (Mabata-domomeno, spishi 5, moja imekwisha sasa)

Oxyurinae: Mabata mkia-ngumu 

Jamii ndogo ya mabata iliyo na spishi 8 ndani ya jenasi 4:
 Oxyura (Mabata mkia-ngumu, spishi 5)
 Nomonyx (Masked Duck, spishi 1)
 Biziura (Musk Duck, spishi 1)
 Heteronetta (Bata Kichwa-cheusi, spishi 1)

Spishi za Afrika 
 Aix galericulata, Bata Mdogo wa China (Mandarin Duck) imewasilishwa
 Aix sponsa, Bata-Msitu (Wood Duck) imewasilishwa
 Alopochen aegyptiaca, Bata Bukini wa Misri Egyptian Goose)
 Anas acuta, Bata Kipini (Northern Pintail)
 Anas bernieri, Bata Malagasi (Madagascar or Bernier's Teal)
 Anas capensis, Bata Kusi (Cape Teal)
 Anas clypeata, Bata Sepeto (Northern Shoveler)
 Anas crecca, Bata Mabawa-kijani (Common Teal)
 Anas erythrorhyncha, Bata Domo-jekundu (Red-billed Teal)
 Anas hottentota, Bata Domo-bluu (Hottentot Teal)
 Anas melleri, Bata wa Meller (Meller’s Duck)
 Anas penelope, Bata Domo-kijivu (Eurasian Wigeon)
 Anas platyrhynchos, Bata wa Ulaya (Mallard) imewasilishwa
 Anas querquedula, Bata Mchirizi-mweupe (Garganey)
 Anas rubripes, Bata Mweusi wa Marekani (American Black Duck) imewasilishwa
 Anas smithii, Bata Sepeto Kusi (Cape Shoveler)
 Anas sparsa, Bata Mweusi (African Black Duck)
 Anas strepera, Bata Kahawia (Gadwall)
 Anas undulata, Bata Domo-njano (Yellow-billed Duck)
 Anser anser, Bata Bukini wa Ulaya (Greylag Goose)
 Anser indicus, Bata Bukini Kichwa-miraba (Bar-headed Goose) imewasilishwa
 Aythya ferina, Bata Kichwa-chekundu (Common or Northern Pochard)
 Aythya fuligula, Bata Kishungi (Tufted Duck)
 Aythya innotata, Bata Kichwa-kahawia (Madagascar Pochard)
 Aythya nyroca, Bata Macho-meupe (Ferruginous Duck)
 Cyanochen cyanoptera, Bata Bukini Bawa-buluu (Blue-winged Goose)
 Cygnus atratus, Bata-maji Mweusi (Black Swan) imewasilishwa
 Cygnus olor, Bata-maji Domo-fundo (Mute Swan) imewasilishwa
 Dendrocygna autumnalis, Bata-miti Tumbo-jeusi (Black-bellied Whistling Duck)
 Dendrocygna bicolor, Bata-miti Kahawia (Fulvous Whistling Duck)
 Dendrocygna viduata, Bata-miti Uso-mweupe (White-faced Whistling Duck)
 Marmaronetta angustirostris, Bata Domo-jembamba (Marbled Teal)
 Melanitta nigra, Bata-bahari Mweusi (Common Scoter)
 Mergus serrator, Bata-domomeno Kidari-chekundu (Red-breasted Merganser)
 Netta erythrophthalma, Bata Macho-mekundu (Southern Pochard)
 Netta rufina, Bata Kichwa-machungwa (Red-crested Pochard) imewasilishwa
 Nettapus auritus, Bata Salili (African Pygmy Goose)
 Oxyura jamaicensis, Bata Uso-mweupe (Ruddy Duck) imewasilishwa
 Oxyura leucocephala, Bata Kichwa-cheupe (White-headed Duck)
 Oxyura maccoa, Bata Makoa (Maccoa Duck)
 Plectropterus gambensis, Bata Bukini Mabawa-kijani (Spur-winged Goose)
 Pteronetta hartlaubii, Bata wa Hartlaub (Hartlaub's Duck)
 Sarkidiornis melanotos, Bata Nyundo (Knob-billed Duck)
 Tadorna cana, Bata Kichwa-kijivu (South African Shelduck)
 Tadorna ferruginea, Bata Kahawiachekundu (Ruddy Shelduck)
 Tadorna tadorna, Bata Mkufu-mwekundu (Common Shelduck) imewasilishwa
 Thalassornis leuconotus, Bata Kotwe (White-backed Duck)

Tabia

Kula 
1 filter teeth edit.jpg
Utando wa Pecten mdomoni

Bata hula aina mbalimbali ya chakula kama vile kama vile nyasi, mimea ya majini, samaki, wadudu, amfibia wadogo , minyoo na moluski.
Bata wanaoogelea na bata wa baharini wanakula wanyama chini kabisa ya kina cha maji. Ili kuweza kuzama kwa urahisi, bata wanaoogelea ni wazito kuliko bata aina ya dabbling, hivyo inakuwa vigumu kwa wao kuruka.
Bata hawa wa dabbling hula kwenye uso wa maji au ardhini, au chini ya ardhi kwa kadiri ya uwezo atakaoweza kufikia bila ya kuzama kabisa.[4] Kuzunguka mdomo wa bata kuna umbo mithili ya kitana, iitwayo pecten. Hii huchuja majimaji kwa kuyapitisha kwenye pande za mdomo na kubakiza chakula chochote ndani. Pecten pia hutumika kupuna manyoya.
Baadhi ya spishi kama vile smew, goosander na mergansers wanauwezo wa kumeza samaki wakubwa.
Bata wengine wana midomo bapa mahsusi kwa kazi za kuzoa na kuvuta kama vile kuvuta magugumaji, kuvuta minyoo na moluski nje ya matope, kutafuta lava wa wadudu, na kazi kubwa.

Marejeo 
1.	^ "Duckling". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Republished by dictionary.com, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/duckling, Accessed 05-01-2008.
2.	^ "Duckling". Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary (Beta Version), 2000-2006 K Dictionaries Ltd., Republished by dictionary.com, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/duckling, Accessed 05-01-2008.
3.	^ Photo of a duck eating a frog
4.	^ Ogden, Evans. "Dabbling Ducks". CWE. http://www.sfu.ca/biology/wildberg/species/dabbducks.html. Retrieved 2006-11-02.
5.	^ Amos, Jonathan. "Sound science is quackers". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3086890.stm. Retrieved 2006-11-02.
6.	^ "Mythbusters Episode 8". 12 Desemba 2003. http://mythbustersresults.com/episode8.
7.	^ "Mallard - Nature Notes". Ducks Unlimited Canada. http://www.ducks.ca/resource/general/naturenotes/mallard.html . Retrieved 2006-11-02.

Viungo vya Nje 
•	Wild Ducks Info – Maelezo ya kina kuhusu bata wa mwituni.
•	Duck videos kwenye Mkusanyiko wa Ndege kwenye Wavuti.
•	list of books (sehemu bora ya kutazama)
•	Ducks at a Distance, by Rob Hines at Project Gutenberg - Mwongozo wa kisasa wa kuwatambua bata maji wa Marekani.

Imerekebishwa kutoka "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck

Majina ya ndege kwa Kiswahili