Andaman crake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andaman crake |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Rallina
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| Species: |
canningi
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The Andaman crake (Rallina canningi) is a special type of bird. It belongs to the Rallidae family, which includes rails and crakes. This bird lives only on the Andaman Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean. This means it is an endemic species.
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Meet the Andaman Crake
The Andaman crake was first described in 1863. A scientist named Edward Blyth gave it the name Euryzona canningi. Later, another scientist, E. C. Stuart Baker, changed its scientific name to Rallina canningi. This is the name we still use today.
What Does the Andaman Crake Look Like?
This is the biggest type of Rallina crake. It is about 34 centimeters (13 inches) long. The Andaman crake has shiny, reddish-brown feathers. Its belly has bold stripes. Its tail is quite long and fluffy.
It has a bright apple-green beak and olive-green legs and feet. You can also see light stripes on its outer wing feathers. Young Andaman crakes are not as brightly colored. Their stripes are also not as clear.
Other crakes, like the ruddy-breasted crake, look a bit similar. But they are smaller. They also do not have green beaks and legs like the Andaman crake. When it makes a sound, the Andaman crake has a deep croak. It also makes a sharp click if it senses danger.
Where Does the Andaman Crake Live?
The Andaman crake lives in marshlands. These marshlands are found inside warm, wet forests. It also lives in tropical mangrove forests. These birds are found on North, Middle, and South Andaman islands. They might also live on other nearby islands.
For a while, scientists did not have enough information about this bird. They were not sure how many there were. But later studies showed that it is quite common in places where it likes to live. Because of this, it is now listed as a species of "least concern". This means it is not in immediate danger of disappearing. Experts believe there are between 10,000 and 25,000 Andaman crakes.
How Does the Andaman Crake Live?
Family Life
Andaman crakes lay their eggs between June and August. They build their nests at the bottom of large trees. These trees often have wide, strong bases. They might also nest under thick plants in the forest. They often choose trees like Terminalia or Pterocarpus. They might build their nests close to water.
Their eggs look like those of the banded crake, but they are bigger. They are also whiter and shinier. Both the male and female birds take turns sitting on the eggs. The eggs are about 40 by 30 millimeters (1.6 by 1.2 inches) in size.
What's for Dinner?
Like other crakes, the Andaman crake eats small animals. It enjoys small fish, snails, worms, and insects. This includes beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars. If it catches a large grasshopper, it will shake and hit it before swallowing.
Challenges It Faces
In the 1980s, the Andaman crake was thought to be very common. Many birds could be found in a small area. But now, it is not as common, even though there are still many forests on the islands. Animals that have been brought to the islands by people, like rats or cats, might also be a danger to the crake's population.
