American Flamingo

TAXONOMY :  Biological name : Phoenicopterus ruber

• Kingdom : animalia

• Genus: Phoenicopterus

• Phylum : Chordata

• Class : Aves

• Family : Phoenicopteridae 

• Order:  Phoenicopterus

•  Species : P. ruber

EVOLUTION: 

• subspecies: Caribbean flamingo & The Old World flamingo[ of African, southern europe, and Asia] 

• American Flamingo existance : Fossil evidence indicates the long existance of the American Flamingos ( around 30 million years ) 

• Closest living relative to the species : Smallish waterbirds { also known as grebes}

• 3 ancestors :  Ancient Shorebirds, Long legged Ciconiiformes, Ibises

 DESCRIPTION: 

• Pysical description: pink feathers, black- tipped wings, lengthy neck, long pink legs, and webbed pink feet with 3 toes

• Point key characteristics : plumage is a distinct pink color, the bill has a characteristic downward bend, males tend to be larger in size

• size : average adult is around 5 feet tall( largest species of flamingos ) > due to the long legs and neck

• weight: 4-8 pounds 

• life span : around 40-60 years 

• differences between female and male: when talking about looks it is very hard to tell the two apart, although the male is slightly larger in size, weight, and wingspsan