Caribbean+Flamingo

= = =__**Caribbean Flamingo**__ = //Pheonicopterus ruber//



__**BASIC INFORMATION:**__

 * Domain || Eukaria ||
 * Kingdom || Animalia ||
 * Phylum || Chordata ||
 * Class || Aves ||
 * Order || Pheonicopteriformes ||
 * Family || Pheonicopteridae ||
 * Genus || Pheonicopterus ||
 * Species ||< //Pheonicopterus ruber// ||

__**HABITAT:**__
The Caribbean Flamingo breeds in the Guyanas and Capeorange in Brazil. it also breeds in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, and in the northern Caribbean in the Bahamas, Hispaniola, Cuba and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Its preferred habitats are similar to of its relatives: Lagoons, mudflats, and shallow brackish coastal or inland lakes. Flamingos establish and defend their nesting territories. The majority of lakes where flamingos live have extremely high salt concentrations. The only source of fresh water for some of these birds comes fromboiling geysers. Flamingos excrete salt through salt glands in the nostrils. Over centuries of evolution, flamingos have adapted to number of unique traits which helped them to survive in their environment. By adapting to salty deep lagoons, flamingos enusred that they can survive by essentially adapting to fit a niche. Caribbean Flamingos do not compete with very many other animals for food and resources, since they can tolerate conditions which other creatures cannot. As they adapted, they also spread, expanidng their habitat into new ares which were not populated by other creatures. ====

__**SPECIES INTERACTIONS:**__
Caribbean flamingos feed upon blue-green and red algae, diatoms, larval and adult forms of small insects, crustaceans, molluscs, and small fishes make up the main diet. Long legs let these flamingos wade into deeper water than most other birds to look for food and have a distintive eating habits. The bill is held upside down in the water. The flamingo feeds by sucking water and mud in at the front of its bill and then pumping it out again at the sides. Caribbean Flamingos feed upon insect, worms, vegetation and algae. They mainly feed during the day and they drag their bill upside down through shallow water picking up food as they go.Caribbean Flamingos are preyed upon by vultures, storks, eagles, and land predators such as; lions, leopards, jackals, and pythons. Their eggs and young are threatened by other birds and adults are snatched from flock by larger predators. Flamingos can defend themselves as individuals by kicking or by pinching with their strong curved bill. Their long neck gives them the advantage of reach as they dart their head toward a threat and jab with their bill. Vocal communication is also important among flamingos, not only for mating and finding their young, but for alarm calls as well.

** __REPRODUCTION:__ **
Mating for these birds is a complex affair. Their highly gregarios nature leads to distinct behaviors for selcting a mate and hvaing a young afterward. The entire adult colony prepares for mating. When a colony has found a suitable location, adults wil gather near the drinking era. Though birds over one year of age can breed, only fully colored adults can take part in the breeding ritual.

As of 2009, Caribbean Flamingos have been considered to be an endangered species. The primary threat that these flamingos encounter is toxins and pollution in the water supply, generally run- off from manufactoring facilities, which can quickly kill off large numbers of the birds. Beyond that, encroauchment on their habitat is the major threat. Because of human disturbance and the habitat loss threatens the coastal Caribbean wetlands on which the Caribbean flamingo depends. To ensure that this flamingo species remain existence, the most effective solution is to ensure that fkamingo habitats are preserved and strict anti-pollution guidelines are enforced in these areas.