Ferry Crocodile's natural enemies -Whale History | Science Popular Class

Crocodile is an animal that is almost at the top of the food chain, so is it still enemies?

Picture source: second dong children

Of course! That's the whale head! Of course, the whale rumor cannot be against adult crocodiles, and they are mainly predating small crocodiles.

The picture comes from 2girl.net

Whale Houjiao (scientific name: Balaeniceps Rex) is a big bird that is very similar to the family. It is the only species of the whale ear -cot whale ear. It is tall, with an average of 1.2 meters high, weighing 4000-7000 grams, and the wing exhibition reaches 2.6 meters. The size looks like white 头, the head is particularly huge, and it is also the largest bird in the present. Its huge, mottled beak makes it more attractive. The huge bird's beak looks like the head of a whale, the eyes are located on the front of the head, and the eyes of the owl grow on the same plane. The beak is wide and thick. It is the widest bird's beak in the world. It is 12 cm wide. The bottom of the mouth is bent into a hook. The role of the beak of the bird's beak is not the same. Thick skin, and the upper and lower pieces are clamped like this, like a workpiece was sandwiched on the tiger's pliers of the fitter.

All feathers of the whale are gray, with green luster on the back, short tail, and short feather crown behind the head. The most prominent feature of the shape is that it has a very thick and thick mouth with a large head and wooden boots. However, its mouth looked very heavy, but it was actually light. The male and female feathers are the same color, only the size of the body, and the female bird is slightly smaller. Young birds are brown and there is no green luster on the back. The color of the bird's beak is yellow -green, the iris is white to pale yellow, and the feet are black.

Whale ears are usually separated or paired, and they do all night. Hidden in the grass or reed during the day, come out for food at dusk, and few people find them. However, when people rest near the island, they may see it soaring over the wetland. When flying, the gesture is like heron or the pelicans bend into a "Z" shape. Do not sing (the muscle degeneration of the tube), but it can make the sound of "daemon, click" like Baiya. In addition, a loud noise can be made in gliding.

It is mainly eaten by fish such as lung fish, Liuxu catfish, and also capture animals such as small crocodiles, turtles, water snakes, snails, frogs, and occasionally prefers lizards, turtles, mice, chicks, or young crocodiles. They hide their bodies in the height of the height of the water, waiting for their prey. In the dry season, the swamp was dried up, and the food was dug into the lung fish in the soil. This awkward mouth of the bird was suitable for catching fish and frogs, especially lung fish and catfish.

The whale ears are generally started in the dry season. The territorial awareness is very strong. The husband and wife jointly defend and destroy the nests of natural enemies or potential competitors. Breeding during the rainy season, eggs were produced in the late rainy season, and it was April to June in Uganda. The way of marriage is a monogamy. The male and female birds are built with branches and reeds in the reed grass of near-water wetlands or islands. The nest has a diameter of about 1-2 meters. It can be sustainable for several years. Female birds have 1-3 eggs each time, usually 2, but often only have one young bird.

Whale -headed mothers usually lay eggs. After 30 days of incubation, the whale ears will break out of the shell. But don't underestimate them. As the newly -promoted whale, the baby's food is very amazing. "Dad, mother" needs to find food day and night to feed their children, but as the whale head grows up, "Daddy grows up day by day," Daddy The food brought back can only be fed a whale ear. At this time, the stronger chicks will attack another attack and enjoy food. The weaker chicks are often injured by attacking, and they are also cruelly discarded by their parents. This is why the whale earlier often only lives a chicks.

The male and female hatching eggs are about 30 days. Both parents will nurture the chicks together for about 3 months. After the chicks are hatched, the birds will shade with both wings. The birds are full of feathers at the end of the dry season. It takes about 60 days, leaves the nest after 95 days, and takes off at 105-112 days. After the day, the parents will support them some time. Sexual maturity is about 3 or 4 years old, with a life expectancy of 36 years.

Whale ears are distributed in the central government, most of them live in Sudan, distributed in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania United Republic, Uganda, and Zambia.

South Sudan whale has the largest number, accounting for 50%to 80%of the world's total, with a total of more than 5,000; Congo Democratic Republic: less than 1,000; Zambia: less than 500; Tanzania 200-500; Ugando 100-150 Only; Rwanda has more than 50; 50 Ethiopia; occasional existence of the Central African Republic; the number of Burundi and Malawi is unknown. As of 2002, the total number of estimates is between 5000-8000. The overall number decreased sharply. The International Bird Protection Alliance sets it as a critical species. The main reason for the harm is that the habitat caused by agricultural irrigation is damaged, interfered and hunt.

In general, the whale is not only not as weak as you think, but even a lot of power beyond your imagination.

The whale ears are a quiet bird hidden in the African wilderness swamps, but they become popular because of their unique appearance and several strange events, making its name well known to the public. However, in its original habitat, wild whales are facing the threat of habitat loss and poaching. The current number of populations is not very optimistic, only 5,000 to 8,000 individuals, which are also rated as dangerous in the IUCN rating. (VU).

In addition, the whale's ethomic is mature and late, the number of descendants is small, and the growth of population is difficult to ensure the intact living environment. Although the artificially raised whale head has a record of reproduction in recent years, it has been recorded.The population is still nine cattle.The population of the whale rumor is shrinking, but this is not because their predation or reproductive ability has problems, but the result of habitats.

It is hoped that in the future, more whales can walk freely in the swamp wetlands.

(Content comes from species calendar)

Organize/SAMMI Trial/Ren Xiaodong/Pierre

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