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Doswellia was a 1.8 metre long archosauriform that lived in North America during the Late Triassic, 220 million years ago. It was about the same size as an Asian water monitor and may have lived a similar lifestyle, hunting prey on both land and in the water. Despite its narrow snout, it was capable of delivering a powerful bite.

Artwork by Joschua Knüppe

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Thinking about Eurasian Bullfinches 😌

randomanimaloftheday

Day 58#: Lesser Flamingo

Today's animal of the day is the Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor)!

Photo credit: Ian Davies

As its name suggests, the lesser flamingo is the smallest species of flamingo. Though you probably wouldn't be able to tell unless they were standing right next to another species of flamingo since they're still a pretty decent-sized bird and have a standing height of around 31 to 35 inches. Though their total body length from beak to tail can be up to 41 inches, since they usually aren't holding their necks fully outstretched. They are also the most common species of flamingo and are often seen throughout sub-Saharan Africa and western India. Occasionally, some individuals can become lost and have been sighted in parts of Europe.

Photo credit: Sumita Roy Dutta

Lesser flamingos tend to congregate in large flocks around alkaline lakes, which are inland bodies of water with high levels of salinity. These salty lakes are prime growing environments for numerous species of algae, which make up the majority of their diet. They also feed on a variety of crustaceans and other small invertebrates in the water, which gives them their pink coloration. Though this species prefers to eat algae, which is why they are a lighter pink compared to some other flamingo species that feed more on crustaceans.

Photo credit: Anup Shah

Adult flamingos have numerous adaptations that help them live in areas that are too extreme for many other animals to survive in. They have the ability to drink saltwater by excreting excess salt through special glands in their nasal passages. They are even able to tolerate standing in water that's near boiling! However, while adult flamingos are capable of surviving in such extreme environments, the chicks aren't as hardy as their parents are. So, soon after hatching, baby flamingos will join a group of other hatchlings, called a creche, and will follow their parents to the nearest source of freshwater. These creches can sometimes have over 100,000 baby flamingos and have been known to walk over 20 miles to reach their destination!

Photo credit: Martyn Sidwell

Even though they are the most common species of flamingo, the lesser flamingo is considered a threatened species due to its feeding and nesting sites being destroyed by human activities. In East Africa, the waters of Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria, which are the two main habitats for the flamingo population in this region, have also become polluted with heavy metals. In South Africa, the main breeding site for the lesser flamingo is also at risk of being destroyed due to human development and pollution.