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14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


What are the animals with feathers?

When you think of feathers, what animals come to your head? You probably remember species such as duck, chicken, hummingbird or ruisenor.Now, do birds only have feathers? The answer to this is yes .Only birds have feathers, this is a feature that allows a species to be included in the group of birds.
However, it has been shown that, in the past, some dinosaur species also developed feathers and from them the birds we know descend.Today there is still no definitive conclusion about what caused the change from scales to feathers (thinking about crocodiles, other prehistoric creatures), the different theories plan that it could be due to a process evolutionary to allow the flight of those species of dinosaurs that moved over the treetops and branches through jumps, while others point to thermal protection or attraction mechanisms during the mating season.
Despite this, if there is evidence as they point to the dinosaurs belonging to the group of theopods , such as the famous velociraptor, among the primitive ancestors of modern birds.This conclusion was established in 1996, at which was discovered a fossil of Sinosauropteryx that presents thin filaments covering its body.The feathers of this specimen would have evolved from the scales.Also, in 2009 a fossil of was discovered Tianyulog , species of the Cretaceous, with samples of sows in the loin.


What are the feathers for?

The feathers are important elements when flying, but this is not the only function that they fulfill.What are the feathers for? Next, we detail it to you.
A pen is formed of keratin and is an epidermal structure, that is, it is part of the skin.Keratin is the protein responsible not only for shaping the feathers, but also the ones, the hair and the scales.Like these, the pen is "dead", that is, it is not attached to the body by blood vessels.they occur in the wake of the feather cut or some occur when an inexperienced person makes the cut at the level of the nerve.
The set of feathers is called plumage and, although they play an important role when flying, Not all birds fly, so that is not the only function they fulfill.These are other of them:
  • Provide propulsion and speed during the flight (primary feathers).
  • Retain air during the flight so that the bird can stay (secondary feathers).
  • Eliminate or reduce turbulence during the flight (rigid feathers oalula).
  • Direct the flight (helms or tail feathers).
  • Provide dynamism and support (cover feathers).
  • Protect during the different seasons and times of life (there is a winter plumage, more abundant and less striking, and a bridal, colorful and striking plumage, used for the reproductive period).
  • Distinguish between males and females (occurs in those species where there is sexual dimorphism , that is, physical characteristics vary between males and females).
  • They allow camouflage (the plumage of some species simulates the colors found in their habitat).
  • Repel predators (the bright color of some plumages is a method of defense, it indicates that the species could be dangerous).
Now that you know what the feathers are for, we talk to you about some animals with feathers and curiosities about e llos.


List of animals with feathers

You know what are the animals with feathers, that is, birds, so we present several curiosities about some of them. Examples of animals with feathers :
  • Cuco
  • Bee hummingbird
  • Mandarin duck
  • Flamingo
  • Picozapato
  • Ave lira superb
  • Tucan
  • Peacock


1.Cuco

The common cuckoo ( Cuculus canorus ) is a bird that can be found in Asia, Europe and Africa.The females of this species practice what is called the parasitism of put , a curious way to raise the chicks: taking into account the size and color of other birds, the female looks for the nest of another species to leave her own without it being noticeable.To do so, she gets rid of one of the eggs of the bird she parasites to leave her own.The objective of this is that, when hatching, the cuckoo baby throws the rest of the eggs and only she is fed.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


2.Colibri bee

The bee hummingbird ( Mellisuga helenae ) is a species that lives in Cuba and is the smallest bird in the world .It is characterized by presenting a red and blue plumage in males, while females have green and bluish tones.This hummingbird only reaches 5 centimeters in adulthood.
If you want to know all the types of hummingbirds that exist, do not miss this article.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


3 mandarin duck

Without a doubt, one of the most exotic feathered animals, the mandarin duck ( Aix galericulata ) is a bird native to China, Siberia and Japan, but now it is also possible to find it in Europe.The particularity of the species resides in a marked sexual dimorphism : the females have a brown or brown plumage with some creamy or white areas, while the male exhibits an unprecedented and unique combination of colors, mixing between cream, bright green, blue, coral, purple, black and reddish brown.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


4.Flamenco

Under the name of flamingo several species of the genus Phoenicopterus are nominated characterized by their long legs, long and stylized neck and their pink plumage .However, did you know that this color of the feathers is a product of food? At birth, the flamingos are white, but their diet is based on the consumption of seedlings and crustaceans, which contain large amounts of carotenoids, an organic pigment that provides the characteristic color of their plumage.
To more details, do not miss this article: "Why are flamingos pink?".
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


5.Picozapato

The picozapato ( Balaeniceps rex ) is one of the most curious feathered animals that exist, as it is a species of the pelicans of the order that attracts attention for its peculiar appearance .It has a huge beak whose shape resembles a shoe, a fact that originated its funny name.Little is known about its habits or its population, since it rarely leaves the African blinds where it lives.


6 Superb lyre bird

The superb lyre bird ( Menura novaehollandiae ) is a bird native to Australia.It is a singing species that stands out above others of this type because it is capable to imitate sounds as incredible as the click of a camera shutter or the noise made by a chainsaw.It is also curious for its peculiar appearance, especially that of males, which have a very striking tail due to the variety of its plumage.
If you want to know more curious Australian animals, do not miss this article.


7.Tucan

Under the name of tucan, the birds of the family Ramphastidae are included, birds that inhabit a wide territory, which goes from Mexico to Argentina.Beyond the beautiful colors that characterize them, they demonstrate a curious behavior during the mating ritual: both males and females tend to take or throw food and branches.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


8 peacock

The peacock ( Pavo cristatus ) is a bird that can be found in Asia and Europe.Its most unique feature is the wonderful and colorful plumage that males present, characterized by its blue and green colors.However, there is an even more impressive version, the white peacock .This plumage is the product of a recessive gene and only appears after very well selected crosses.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


Animals with feathers that do not fly

Although feathers are indispensable elements during the flight, there are some animals with feathers that do not fly, they are the non-flying birds .These are some of the most curious and striking :
  • Kakapo
  • Penguin
  • Ostrich
  • Kiwi
  • Cassowary
  • Cormoran mancon


1.Kakapo

The kakapo ( Strigops habroptila ) is a species of non-flying parrot endemic to New Zealand.It is a nocturnal bird that measures 60 centimeters and It weighs about 4 kilos.It has a green moss and black plumage.
There are currently less than 200 live specimens, so IUCN has considered the species in critical danger of extinction Its main threat is the introduction of non-native invasive species into its habitat.Due to its inability to fly, they are easier to catch than other animals.


2.Pinguino

Under the name of penguins, several species of the genus Sphenisciforme are included.They live in the Galapagos Islands and much of the northern hemisphere.Although they cannot fly, the penguins are good swimmers and even use their wings to propel themselves out of the water when they flee predators.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


3.Ostrich

The ostrich ( Struthio camelus ) is the largest and heaviest bird in the world , since it reaches 180 kilos.However, this does not represent a problem for the species, because it is capable of reaching 90 km/hour running in the savannas of Africa.This way, this animal with feathers enjoys two great records, since in addition to being the largest bird, it is the bird faster on the ground .If you want to meet the fastest bird in flight, check out this article: "What is the fastest bird in the world?".
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


4.Kiwi

The kiwi, belonging to the genus Apteryx, is a bird of similar size to a chicken that is found in New Zealand.It is an animal with feathers omnivorous of nocturnal habits .Although it does not fly, it has very small wings.As a curious fact, we can say that the species is the official animal of New Zealand.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


5.Casuary

This is a genus of birds that includes three species that inhabit Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.The cassowals have a curious appearance : long legs, somewhat oval body full of feathers and long neck.Also, they usually measure about 2 meters and weigh about 40 kg.
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities


6.Cormoran mancon

And we finalize the list of animals with feathers that do not fly with the cormoran mancon ( Phalacrocorax harrisi ), endemic bird of the Galapagos Islands.It is characterized by a curious system of reproduction , the polyandro mating , which means that a female reproduces with several males, and by its small wings.
Do you know other species of animals with curious feathers that you would like share? Leave your comment!
14 Animals with feathers - List with names and curiosities
If you wish read more articles similar to Animals with feathers-List with names and curiosities , we recommend you enter our section of Curiosities of the animal world.
Bibliography
  • Red List IUCN. Kakapo .Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22685245/129751169
  • National Geographic. The curious evolution of the feathers .Dis available at: https://www.ngenespanol.com/fotografia/larga-curiosa-y-extravagante-evolucion-plumas/
  • Digital Library. III.Feathers and plumage .Available in: http://bibliotecadigital.ilce.edu.mx/sites/ciencia/volumen3/ciencia3/138/htm/sec_8.htm
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