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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
Caribbean
flamingo, American flamingo |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Ciconiiformes |
| FAMILY: |
Phoenicopteridae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Phoenicopterus
(crimson winged) ruber ruber (red) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Caribbean
flamingos are tall, large bodied birds with long
necks and small heads. Most flamingos have bright
pink or crimson plumage, legs, and bills. The Caribbean
flamingo is by far the brightest and one of the
largest of all the flamingos. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
80-145 cm (31-57 in) long |
| FEMALE |
Females
tend to be smaller than males |
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| WEIGHT: |
Approximately
1.9-3 kg (4.2-6.6 lbs) |
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| DIET: |
Includes
algae, diatoms, aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans
and mollusks |
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| INCUBATION: |
26-31
days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
Typically
1 large egg |
| FLEDGING
DURATION |
Approximately
11 weeks |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
2-6 years; usually do not breed until around 6 years,
even if they have reached sexual maturity earlier |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
In
the wild, up to 50 years |
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| RANGE: |
South
America and the Caribbean; small population in the
Galapagos |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
tropical and warm temperate sites; found near shallow
salt or soda lagoons and lakes |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Appendix
II |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
In
many languages, the word flamingo (originally derived
from the Portuguese for 'red goose'), is a reference
to their flying formation and the noise they make. |
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| 2. |
Caribbean flamingos are thought by some scientists
to be the most primitive in their mating and courtship
displays. Previously, researchers believed these
birds to be monogamous, but recent studies have
shown otherwise. |
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| 3. |
All flamingos feed with their bills 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. |
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| 4. |
Flamingos
are an ancient group of birds. Their fossil records
dates back to the Miocene epoch, which is about
10 million years ago. |
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| 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. |
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| 6. |
The
flamingo is unique in that the adults, both male
and female, provide their young with a type of milk
called crop milk. |
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| 7. |
For
more information about flamingos, explore the flamingo
info book. |
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Flamingos
have few natural predators because they live in
remote, inhospitable places.
Their
mostly alkaline diet does not fit the needs of
other animals. By eating the smallest of organisms,
they not only keep watering holes productive,
they also help circulate the waters by turning
over the mud and silt on the bottom of rivers,
streams, and ponds.
Their
uses to man are unfortunately the flamingos greatest
problem. In the past, their tongues were a rare,
pickled delicacy and their plumage was sometimes
sought for its vibrant color. However, as with
most animals, habitat destruction and exploitation
is by far the flamingo's greatest challenge.
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|
|
| Austin,
O. L. Birds of the World. Golden Press, New
York. 1961. |
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|
Harrison, C.J.O., and Perrins, C. Birds: Their
Life, Their Ways, Their World. Reader's Digest
Association, Inc., New York. 1987. |
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|
Perrins, C. and A. Middleton. The Encyclopedia
of Birds. Facts on File Publications, New
York. 1985.
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| SeaWorld
Education Department Publication. Flamingos:
Sea World, Inc. 1994. |
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