Science
Related: About this forumAnimal of the day – 12/15/2010 – The Hoatzin (I only just discovered this one!)
Animal of the day 12/15/2010 The Hoatzin
The animal of the day is the Hoatzin. (Did you know: Its also known as the Stinkbird due to the funky smell it creates, prboably due to its unique digestive system and the leaves it eats.
Hoatzins are the only members of their genus [Opisthocomus] and have many unique characteristics among birds. Its the only bird that has claws at the ends of its wings! These are much more pronounced in the young.
More:
http://simbania.wordpress.com/2010/12/15/animal-of-the-day-%E2%80%93-12152010-%E2%80%93-the-hoatzin/
sinkingfeeling
(51,473 posts)Shrike47
(6,913 posts)BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)eppur_se_muova
(36,289 posts)I still remember thinking how these seemed to be some kind of "missing link" between birds and reptiles.
Sadly, their habitat is endangered ... (like every habitat on Earth, it seems).
World's Fair, Hoatzin, and the X-15 -- that was a well-thumbed copy in our house !
gordianot
(15,244 posts)Warpy
(111,339 posts)because nothing else will eat it unless provoked by starvation, the smell and flavor are so bad.
You've got to appreciate that kind of evolutionary strategy. I certainly do.