flamingo

Flamingo Fossil range: Eocene - Recent An American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), with Chilean Flamingos (P. chilensis) in the background Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Infraclass: Neognathae Order: Phoenicopteriformes Fürbringer, 1888 Family: Phoenicopteridae Bonaparte, 1831 Genus: Phoenicopterus Linnaeus, 1758 Species See text

Lesser Flamingos in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Andean Flamingos in the Laguna Colorada, Bolivia.

Greater Flamingoes Phoenicopterus roseus at Pocharam lake, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Flamingos or flamingoes^[1] ( pronunciation (help·info)) are gregarious wading birds in the genus Phoenicopterus and family Phoenicopteridae. They are found in both the Western Hemisphere and in the Eastern Hemisphere, but are more numerous in the latter. There are four species in the Americas and two species in the Old World. Two species, the Andean and the James's Flamingo, are often placed in the genus Phoenicoparrus instead of Phoenicopterus.

Systematics

Species

Evolution

The prehistory of the Phoenicopteriformes is far better researched than their systematic affinities (see below). An extinct family of peculiar "swimming flamingos", the Palaelodidae, was initially believed to be the ancestors of the Phoenicopteridae. This is now rejected, as the fossil genus Elornis, apparently a true albeit primitive flamingo, is known from the Late Eocene, before any palaelodid flamingoes have been recorded. A considerable number of little-known birds from the Late Cretaceous onwards are sometimes considered to be flamingo ancestors. These include the genera Torotix, Scaniornis, Gallornis, Agnopterus, Tiliornis, Juncitarsus and Kashinia; these show a mix of characters and are fairly plesiomorphic in comparison to modern birds. (The supposed "Cretaceous flamingo" Parascaniornis is actually a synonym of Baptornis and not a close relative to any living bird). There exists a fairly comprehensive fossil record of the genus Phoenicopterus. The systematics of prehistoric Phoenicopteriformes known only from fossils is as followed:

• Palaelodidae
  • Adelalopus (Borgloon Early Oligocene of Hoogbutsel, Belgium)
  • Palaelodus (Middle Oligocene -? Middle Pleistocene)
  • Megapaloelodus (Late Oligocene - Early Pliocene)

• Phoenicopteridae
  • Elornis (Middle? Eocene - Early Oligocene) - includes Actiornis
  • Phoenicopteridae gen. et sp. indet. (Camacho Middle? - Late Miocene? of San José, Uruguay)^[2]
  • Prehistoric species of Phoenicopterus:
    • Phoenicopterus croizeti (Middle Oligocene - Middle Miocene of C Europe)
    • Phoenicopterus floridanus (Early Pliocene of Florida)
    • Phoenicopterus stocki (Middle Pliocene of Rincón, Mexico)
    • Phoenicopterus copei (Late Pleistocene of W North America and C Mexico)
    • Phoenicopterus minutus (Late Pleistocene of California, USA)
    • Phoenicopterus aethiopicus

Relations

American Flamingos at Chester Zoo.

American Flamingo and offspring

The identity of the closest relatives of the flamingos is a rather contentious issue. A wide variety of birds have been proposed as their closest relatives, on a wide variety of evidence. To reflect the uncertainty about this matter, flamingos are generally placed in their own order. Recent molecular and anatomical studies have suggested a relation with grebes.

Traditionally, the long-legged Ciconiiformes, probably a paraphyletic assemblage, have been considered the flamingos' closest relatives and the family was included in the order. Usually the ibises and spoonbills of the Threskiornithidae were considered their closest relatives within this order. Earlier genetic studies, such as those of Charles Sibley and colleagues, also supported this relationship.^[3] Relationships to the waterfowl were considered as well,^[4] especially as flamingos and waterfowl are parasitized by feather lice of the genus Anaticola, which are otherwise exclusively found on ducks and geese.^[5] Other scientists proposed flamingos as waders most closely related to the stilts and avocets, Recurvirostridae^{[citation needed]}. The peculiar presbyornithids were used to argue for a close relationship between flamingos, waterfowl, and waders^[6], but they are now known to be unequivocal waterfowl with a peculiarly derived morphology paralleling waders and flamingos.

Recent genetic studies have identified a major clade of birds, which has been named the Metaves. This group contains includes flamingos and grebes, as well as the hoatzin, pigeons, hummingbirds, and the sunbittern. Most of these groups have been difficult to place on the family tree of birds. Relations within this group are somewhat unclear, and it has been suggested that this clade is based on molecular convergence.^[7][8][9]

Morphological evidence also strongly supports a relationship between flamingos and grebes. They hold at least eleven morphological traits in common, which are not found on other birds. Many of these characteristics have been previously identified on flamingos, but not on grebes.^[10] The fossil Palaeodids can be considered evolutionarily, and ecologically, intermediate between flamingos and grebes^[11]

For the grebe-flamingo clade, the taxon Mirandornithes ("miraculous birds" due to their extreme divergence and apomorphies) has been proposed.^{[citation needed]} Alternatively, they could be placed in one order, with Phoenocopteriformes taking priority.^[11]

Description

The arcuate bill of this American Flamingo is well adapted to bottom scooping

Diet

American Flamingos, many standing on one leg, in Lago de Oviedo, Dominican Republic

Flamingos filter-feed on brine shrimp. Their oddly-shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they eat, and are uniquely used upside-down. The filtering of food items is assisted by hairy structures called lamellae which line the mandibles, and the large rough-surfaced tongue. The flamingo's characteristic pink colouring is caused by the Beta carotene in their diet. The source of this varies by species, but shrimp and blue-green algae are common sources; zoo-fed flamingos may be given food with the additive canthaxanthin, which is often also given to farmed salmon. Flamingos produce a "milk" like pigeon milk due to the action of a hormone called prolactin (see Columbidae). It contains more fat and less protein than the latter does, and it is produced in glands lining the whole of the upper digestive tract, not just the crop. Both parents nurse their chick, and young flamingos feed on this milk, which also contains red and white blood cells, for about two months until their bills are developed enough to filter feed.

Appearance

Flamingos feeding at Lake Nakuru, Kenya

Flamingos often stand on one leg. The reason for this behavior is not fully known. A leg is tucked beneath the body, because the flamingo like some other animals has the ability to have half of its body go into a state of sleep, and when one side is rested, the flamingo will swap leg and then let the other half sleep,^{[citation needed]} but this has not been proven. It is often suggested that this is done in part to keep the legs from getting wet, in addition to conserving energy. As well as standing in the water, flamingos may stamp their webbed feet in the mud to stir up food from the bottom. Recent research has indicated that standing on one leg may allow the birds to conserve more body heat, given they spend a significant amount of time wading in cold water ^[12].

Young flamingos hatch with grey plumage, but adults range from light pink to bright red due to aqueous bacteria and beta carotene obtained from their food supply. A well-fed, healthy flamingo is more vibrantly coloured and thus a more desirable mate. A white or pale flamingo, however, is usually unhealthy or malnourished. Captive flamingos are a notable exception; many turn a pale pink as they are not fed carotene at levels comparable to the wild. This is changing as more zoos begin to add prawns and other supplements to the diets of their flamingos.

Conservation status

Moche Ceramic Depicting Flamingo. 200 A.D. Larco Museum Collection Lima, Peru.

Scientists have discovered that flamingos are dying by the thousands along the Great Rift Valley lakes of Kenya and Tanzania. However, they are baffled as to the reason. Possible causes include avian cholera, botulism, metal pollution, pesticides or poisonous bacteria, say researchers. Also, fears for the future of the Lesser Flamingo — Phoeniconaias minor — have been raised by plans to pipe water from one of their key breeding areas, the shores of Lake Natron. The lakes are crucial to the birds' breeding success because the flamingos feed off the blooms of cyanobacteria that thrive there.^[13]

Relationship with humans

In Ancient Rome, flamingo tongues were considered a delicacy.^[14] Also, Andean miners have killed flamingos for their fat, believed to be a cure for tuberculosis.^[15]

The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped nature.^[16] They placed emphasis on animals and often depicted flamingos in their art.^[17]

Habits, Behavior, Plumage etc.

Chilean flamingos at the Las Vegas Zoo	American Flamingo at National Zoo Washington, DC.	Lesser Flamingos in flight	Greater Flamingoes Phoenicopterus roseus after taking off	Greater Flamingoes Phoenicopterus roseus calling	Greater Flamingoes Phoenicopterus roseus feeding
Greater Flamingoes Phoenicopterus roseus in flight	Greater Flamingoes Phoenicopterus roseus landing	Greater Flamingoes Phoenicopterus roseus scape	Greater Flamingoes Phoenicopterus roseus taking off	American Flamingo at a zoo in Frankfurt, probably sleeping unihemispherically	Flamingo at Laguna Colorada
A Flamingo from Antalya region, Turkey	Flamingo watching one of its eggs hatch	Flamingo with its chick	Flamingos at Dublin Zoo.	Flamingos at Miami Metro Zoo.	Flamingo as it appeared in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865)

See also

• Plastic flamingo

References

Further reading

• Hilty, Steven L. (2003): Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
• Svensson, Lars; Zetterström, Dan; Mullarney, Killian & Grant, P. J. (1999): Collins bird guide. HarperCollins, London. ISBN 0-00-219728-6

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Phoenicopterus

Wikispecies has information related to: Phoenicopteridae

• Flamingo Resource Centre
• Greater Flamingos near Izmir - Turkey
• Photo of a juvenile flamingo
• Flamingo videos and photoson the Internet Bird Collection
• Why flamingoes stand on one leg