Where in the world can you find Phoenicopterus chilensis?
Phoenicopterus chilensis
lives in marine aquatic environments where they wade
in shallow waters and search for food. (Animal Diversity Web
2007) The most common habitats are coastal mudflats, estuaries,
salt lagoons and salt lakes. (Arkive 2013). Some of their
unnatural habitats are zoos and labs for scientific research.
However, flamingos are not meant to be in captivity and are
built for their natural habitat (Dampier et al. 2010). They have
webbed feet, curved bills, lamella for filter feeding and wings
for flying (Grinfeld 2007). They thrive in the environment but
also can thrive in captivity (Dampier et al. 2010).
Chilean flamingos have little
competition in their natural
environment. They sometimes have to compete with some fish
species for the algae that they eat. (Animal Diversity Web
2007). When humans are excluded as predators, flamingos tend to
be the top of the food chain in their natural environments
(Animal Diversity Web 2007). Humans are the most significant
predator of Chilean flamingos. Humans hunt these flamingos to
obtain their light pink plumage, meat and for sport (Animal
Diversity Web 2007). Andean villagers eat the tongue of the
flamingo because they believe it will help cure tuberculosis
(Animal Diversity Web 2007). The Chilean flamingo is considered
a species that is vulnerable to extinction because of loss of
habitat due to human activities (Grinfeld 2007). Egg harvesting,
mining and irrigation projects seem to be the most devastating
to these South American populations (Bird Life International
2014). The next page is about the geographical locations of
flamingos around the world and population data.
The Chilean flamingo is found
naturally in various parts of South America. At various times of
the year there are populations in central Peru, Argentina,
Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, Chaco, Ecuador and south eastern Brazil
(Encyclopedia of Life 2007). Since Chilean flamingos have such a
vast area they live in, it is hard to keep accurate population
data. However, there are estimates out there. In Argentina, the
population is estimated to be around 100,000 flamingos (Bird
Life International 2014). There are around 30,000 in Chile (Bird
Life International 2014). In Peru and Boliva, the estimates are
rough and the numbers range from 10,000 to 200,000 (Bird Life
International 2014).
The flamingos populations vary on
location and size because the flamingos migrate great distances
between their breeding and nesting grounds (Bird Life
International 2014). In South American countries, where most
flamingos live, the terrain and climate are somewhat similar.
Each of these locations are somewhat close to the equator and
therefore the climate is more tropical. The flamingos migrate
between various aquatic marine environments (Bird Life
International 2014). In these areas, there have even been cases
of flamingos found living in high altitude environments of up to
4,500 meters (Grinfeld 2007). The flamingos that partake living
in high altitudes have been found to migrate to lower elevations
in the winter time (Caziani et al. 2007).
Phoenicopterus chilensis
lives in marine aquatic environments where they wade
in shallow waters and search for food. (Animal Diversity Web
2007) The most common habitats are coastal mudflats, estuaries,
salt lagoons and salt lakes. (Arkive 2013). Some of their
unnatural habitats are zoos and labs for scientific research.
However, flamingos are not meant to be in captivity and are
built for their natural habitat (Dampier et al. 2010).
They have webbed feet, curved bills, lamella for filter feeding
and wings for flying (Grinfeld 2007). They thrive in the
environment but also can thrive in captivity (Dampier et al.
2010).
There are some obvious exceptions to
the habitat for these flamingos. Chilean flamingos are often
kept in captivity in various places around the world. They are
used for scientific research and/or zoos for the purpose of
education and entertainment of the public (Dampier et al. 2010).
These flamingos are even found in zoos in the United States’
zoos. In the next section, there is information of about the
form and function of the flamingo’s body.
In the next section, there is
information of about the form
and function of the flamingo’s body.