horned hornet
Horned anhumas are found in Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia. Close to geese, they are nevertheless absolutely unique in the bird kingdom.
As cornuda anhumas (Horned soul) are one of the most peculiar species of the South American continent and stand out for a unique attribute in the bird world: a white, long and flexible horn that grows (and regenerates) from the forehead.
The curious appendage, made of cartilage, can reach almost 15 centimeters and it is not fixed to the skull, breaking easily when it becomes too long. The regeneration capacity of this horn leads experts to believe that it will mainly have a ornamental functionand not a defensive role, says .
Although the horn is harmless, these birds are not devoid of defense mechanisms. Your greatest weapon is hidden in your wingswhere they have two sharp bone spurs, used in territorial confrontations and in disputes over the choice of a mate. More aggressive confrontations sometimes leave fragments of these spurs lodged in the bodies of other birds.
The internal anatomy of the horned anhuma is also peculiar. Your body contains countless air bags distributed through the skin and bones, which contribute to weight reduction and favor long flights with reduced energy consumption. When they take off, these bags can suddenly collapse, producing an audible pop. The species is also famous for its intense vocalization, described as “mo-cu-ca”which earned it the English name horned screamer. The timbre is close to the goose, one of its closest relatives.
These birds are distributed from Colombia and the Ecuador to the wetlands of central-southern Brazil. Like other members of the same group, they occupy environments rich in water, such as lagoons, humid savannas and extensive flooded areas. The diet is essentially based on vegetable matter: herbs, leaves, stems, flowers and even vines. They also dig through the mud in search of submerged vegetation.
Reproductive behavior is marked by lasting bonds. Couples stay together throughout the year and reinforce the bond through mutual feather grooming. THE incubation is shared: the female incubates the eggs during the day and the male during the night. After hatching, both feed the young.
The horned anhuma is one of the three species of anhuma that exist. While it and the gray tawny (Chauna torquata) do not face significant threats, the northern tawny (C. chavaria) is classified as rare, mainly due to habitat loss in the extreme northwest of South America.
