Scientific Classsification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Phoenicopteriformes Family: Phoenicoperidae Genus: Phoenicoparrus Species:P. jamesi The Palaledous is the most distantly related to a flamingo . It had long legs and long neck. The Palaedous was able to swim under water to chase its food. It has similar characteristics of the modern flamingo. Its webbed feet And wings are physical characteristics that are visible. As far as the behavior , they both unit for their food i shallow water .
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Flamingos Niche- Flamingos have a special beak that allows it to obtain Shrimp and Algae, from salt lakes . Its Specially made to separate mud and silt from food they eat. Hairy structures called lamellae which line the mandibles and the large rough-surfaced tongue are used to help filter food.
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Genetic Variation- The long legs of the Flamingo allows the Flamingo to wade through shallow water and pick food. The Flamingo has be that is used upside down to collect food. It adapts by being able to pick and separate mud and silt from the food. The James Flamingo has two colors , White and pink. The beak color of an adult Flamingo is black at the tip and yellow at the point where it meets the face.
Natural Disaster- When the volcano erupts it would affect the lakes where the flamingos would get their food . The way the food source would be affected by the increase of acidity in the lakes which damage and kill the shrimp and cause the algae to be deadly or non edible .The water source would be wiped out. The flamingos would have to adapt to eating the fruits and plants left behind.
Natural Selection- Since the disaster destroyed the flamingos food source, the adult flamingos would most likely die due to the inability to obtain food. The beak would make it very difficult to obtain food. The newborns however would attempt to feed on plants or fruits and the shape of the beak would change to something similar as a toucans . A toucans beak is specifically made for fruit eating. The beak will also also allow it to have a new diet which includes insects , fruits , frogs , etc. The beak wouldnt be the only thing that will change. Flamingos get their pink color from the algae they consume is loaded with beta carotene, an organic chemical that contains a reddish-orange pigment. Due to the absence of the algae , all pink James Flamingos would be white. The genes would then change to the ones of the new and improved flamingo.
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Certain variations would not be shown anymore due to the destruction of the habitat and their diet. However there are some that will still show due to the food left. Their long legs would allow the flamingo to reach high to low places where fruits or plants are located
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