| |
|
|
| |
| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
|
| COMMON
NAME: |
lesser
flamingo |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Ciconiiformes |
| FAMILY: |
Phoenicopteridae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Phoeniconaias
(crimson water nymph) minor (smaller) |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| DESCRIPTION: |
The
lesser flamingo is a tall, large bodied bird with
a long neck and small head. Most flamingos, including
this species, have pale pink plumage, legs, and
bills. The lesser flamingo is one of the smallest
and the brightest of the flamingos. |
|
| SIZE: |
Approximately
80-90 cm (31-36 in) long |
| FEMALE |
Females
tend to be smaller than males |
|
| WEIGHT: |
Approximately
1.5-2 kg (3-4.5 lb.) |
|
| DIET: |
Includes
algae and diatoms. Feeds with head at the surface
instead of submerged. |
|
| INCUBATION: |
28 day average |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
Usually
1 large egg |
| FLEDGING
DURATION |
70-75 days |
|
| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
6 years |
|
| LIFE
SPAN: |
In
the wild, up to 50 years |
|
| RANGE: |
Found
primarily in eastern and southern Africa. Small
populations exist in western Africa and Pakistan. |
|
| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
tropical alkaline and saline lakes, and occasionally
coastal lagoons |
|
| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Estimated at roughly 5,000,000 individuals |
|
| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Appendix
II |
| USFWS |
Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| 1. |
The
name flamingo is originally derived from the Portuguese
language and means "red goose", which
is a reference to their flying formation and the
noise they make. |
|
|
| 2. |
Lesser
flamingos are believed to be the most numerous and
live in the largest flocks. Some flocks are known
to contain up to one million lesser flamingos and
several thousand greater flamingos. |
|
|
| 3. |
Flamingos
feed with their bill upside-down. They tip their
head into the water and filter feed, using special
adaptations in the top half of their bill to gather
the microorganisms that make up their diet. However,
the lesser flamingo rarely submerges its head while
feeding instead it feeds at the surface. |
|
|
| 4. |
Flamingos
are an ancient group of birds. Their fossil records
dates back to the Miocene epoch, which is about
10 million years ago. |
|
|
| 5. |
Flamingos
are not born with their beautiful pink plumage.
Their color comes from the carotenoid pigments they
consume as part of their diet. Some scientists believe
that a flamingo's success in breeding relies on
its bright color. |
|
|
| 6. |
The
flamingo is unique in that the adults, both male
and female, provide their young with a type of milk
called crop milk. |
|
|
| 7. |
For
more information about flamingos, explore the flamingo
info book. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Flamingos
have few natural predators because they live in
remote, inhospitable places.
Their
feeding strategy, feeding in alkaline or saline
bodies of water, does not affect other species.
Their
uses to man are unfortunately the flamingos greatest
problem. In the past, their tongues were a rare,
pickled delicacy and their eggs were collected
for human consumption. However, as with most animals,
habitat destruction and exploitation is by far
the flamingo's greatest challenge.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| Austin,
O. L. Birds of the World. Golden Press, New
York. 1961. |
| |
| Harrison,
C.J.O., and Perrins, C. Birds: Their Life, Their
Ways, Their World. Reader's Digest Association,
Inc., New York. 1987. |
| |
|
Perrins,
C. and A. Middleton. The Encyclopedia of Birds.
Facts on File Publications, New York. 1985.
|
| |
| Sea
World Education Department Publication. Flamingos:
SeaWorld, Inc. 1994. |
|
|
|
|
|
