Barnacle goose Barnacle goose The barnacle goose ("Branta leucopsis") belongs to the genus "Branta" of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey "Anser" species. Despite its superficial similarity to the brant goose, genetic analysis has shown it is an eastern derivative of the cackling goose lineage. The barnacle goose was first classified taxonomically by Johann Matthäus Bechstein in 1803. "Branta" is a Latinised form of Old Norse "Brandgás", "burnt (black) goose" and the specific epithet is from the Ancient Greek "leukos" "white", and "opsis" "faced". The barnacle goose and the similar brant goose were previously
Anser (bird) Maltese swan "Cygnus equitum" was occasionally placed into "Anser", and "Anser condoni" is a synonym of "Cygnus paloregonus". A goose fossil from the Early-Middle Pleistocene of El Salvador is highly similar to "Anser". Given its age it is likely to belong to an extant genus, and biogeography indicates "Branta" as other likely candidate. ?"Anser scaldii" (Late Miocene of Antwerp, Belgium) may be a shelduck. Two species in the genus are of major commercial importance, having been domesticated as poultry: European domesticated geese are derived from the greylag goose, and Chinese and some African domesticated geese are derived from the swan