Know Animals #1 Flamingo

        *What is Flamingo ?*

Flamingos are all members of the Phoenicopteridae bird family and they are the only birds that belong to that family.

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          *Characteristics*

• Flamingos usually stand on one leg while the other is tucked beneath their body. The reason for this behaviour is not fully understood.

• The greater flamingo is the tallest flamingo standing at 3.9 to 4.7 feet with a weight up to 3.5 kg and the shortest flamingo species (the lesser) has a height of 2.6 feet and weighs up to 2.5 kg.

• Flamingos can have a wingspan as small as 37 inches and as big as 59 inches.

• The tropical wading birds have long legs with backward-bending knees, long curvy necks, and they are pink in colour. The color pink comes from beta-carotene in the crustaceans and plankton that flamingos eat.

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                  *Species*

• Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

• American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)

• Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)

• Andean Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus andinus)

• Puna Flamingo (Phoenicoparrus jamesi)

• Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor)

                 *Taxonomy*

• Kingdom:- animalia
• Family:- poenicopteridae
• Phylum:- chordata
• Class:- aves (birds)
• Order:- poenicopteriformes
• Genre:- poenicoterus

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