Araripe manakin. (Antilophia bokermanni) This flashy little guy was only discovered in 1998, and is
Araripe manakin. (Antilophia bokermanni) This flashy little guy was only discovered in 1998, and is endemic to Brazil, where it has only ever been found in a very small area at the base of the Chapada do Araripe in south Ceara. As with most bird species, the males have some pretty fancy colouring going on, with pure white plumage, black wings and tail and bright red colouring down the head (which makes them look a little like David Bowie, no?). They also have this adorable little tufty thing of feathers above the bill, which only adds to how gosh darn handsome this fella is. Females, in contrast, are olive green in colour, with a paler belly and a smaller tuft of feathers above the bill (they don’t need flashy plumage to show how fabulous they are). A survey in 2006 estimated that the entire population consists of only 800 individuals. Human encroachment and destruction of habitat for agricultural purposes are most likely the causes of the Araripe manakin’s critically endangered status - so, once again, good job humans. Image: Johan Buckens -- source link
#araripe manakin#antilophia bokermanni#brazil#adorable#critically endangered#zoology#zoologybro#animals#science