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Balanced lifestyle Why do some birds stand on one leg?Alexander Middleton, Moorooka, Queensland, Australia(Image: bugdog, stock.xchng)Thanks to all those who offered the answer: "If they picked up the other leg they'd fall over." The old jokes are still the best - Ed
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Answered by Anonymous
on 2009-06-19 11:02:33

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in regard the bar argument, even while sitting I often lift one foot above the other by crossing my legs. I find it more comfortable. Sometimes I will sit on one foot for a while, then switch. Just like the bird.

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-17 17:03:00

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Categories: Animals.

Tags: animals, domestic science.

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Balanced lifestyle Why do some birds stand on one leg?Alexander Middleton, Moorooka, Queensland, Australia(Image: bugdog, stock.xchng)Thanks to all those who offered the answer: "If they picked up the other leg they'd fall over." The old jokes are still the best - Ed
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Answered by Peter Verstage
on 2009-06-21 15:13:21

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The answer is the same as that which I gave in 1991 and published in this column in August of that year:I you were to observe flamingos for any length of time, you would notice that not only do they alternate from one leg to the other, but also that there is an inverse correlation between the frequency of this alternation and the firmness of the river bed on which they are standing. The answer is, of course, that if they stand with both legs in the mud for a long period they run the risk of getting stuck. By changing legs before they sink in too far, this risk is eliminated. Peter Verstage Isle of Man

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-17 17:03:00

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Categories: Animals.

Tags: animals, domestic science.

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Balanced lifestyle Why do some birds stand on one leg?Alexander Middleton, Moorooka, Queensland, Australia(Image: bugdog, stock.xchng)Thanks to all those who offered the answer: "If they picked up the other leg they'd fall over." The old jokes are still the best - Ed
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Answered by Anonymous
on 2009-06-22 03:31:37

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I doubt if flamingos do it to conserve body heat. Aren#39;t they found in hot climates? They should be trying to get rid of body heat. This behavior is probably well-evolved for some particular reason. Perhaps it#39;s easier to spring at prey with one leg ready to land where it needs to in order to maintain balance. Then again other water-hunting birds don#39;t do this, so this is speculation. Other reasons could be that two legs in the water can be identified by prey and warn them off, or it#39;s some kind of social signal to other flamingos that say quot;I#39;m hunting, leave me alonequot; or something else. Or a social signal advertising athleticism and fitness by being able to stand on one leg.

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-17 17:03:00

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Categories: Animals.

Tags: animals, domestic science.

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Balanced lifestyle Why do some birds stand on one leg?Alexander Middleton, Moorooka, Queensland, Australia(Image: bugdog, stock.xchng)Thanks to all those who offered the answer: "If they picked up the other leg they'd fall over." The old jokes are still the best - Ed
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Answered by Anonymous
on 2009-06-23 18:37:55

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This has been largely proven to be psychological. With both legs in the water, ducks will swim between them. Then when the flamingo looks between their legs to see what went through, the ducks turn around and give them the finger.Note that this is not a joke, it is satirical commentary on the rest of the posts here.

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-17 17:03:00

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Categories: Animals.

Tags: animals, domestic science.

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Balanced lifestyle Why do some birds stand on one leg?Alexander Middleton, Moorooka, Queensland, Australia(Image: bugdog, stock.xchng)Thanks to all those who offered the answer: "If they picked up the other leg they'd fall over." The old jokes are still the best - Ed
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Answered by Anonymous
on 2009-07-02 04:00:18

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Because they keep one leg in a good tempeture. Here, in Argentina, they makes that position because in salt lakes at night the lake get frozen and if one leg freeze, another leg can help in the morning to get out.Sorry for my bad english.I hope my comment helps.

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-17 17:03:00

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Categories: Animals.

Tags: animals, domestic science.

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Balanced lifestyle Why do some birds stand on one leg?Alexander Middleton, Moorooka, Queensland, Australia(Image: bugdog, stock.xchng)Thanks to all those who offered the answer: "If they picked up the other leg they'd fall over." The old jokes are still the best - Ed
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Answered by Anonymous
on 2009-07-03 19:55:36

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Following on from the comment about humans. I am slim, with long legs and low blood pressure. I have a history of placing (at least one) leg in an elevated position. As a teenager I always sat on the sofa with my legs slung over the back. I still do it some of the time. I often place one foot on the counter by the basin when brushing my teeth (sooo comfortable) and again often place one leg up on the breakfast bar while reading after a meal.

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-17 17:03:00

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Categories: Animals.

Tags: animals, domestic science.

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Why are jewel anemones so brightly coloured?

For a scuba diver, one of the best underwater sights is a rock face covered in brilliantly coloured jewel anemones (Corynactis viridis). They exist in many colours, and often vivid contrasting colours are found side by side. There are also subdued, semi-transparent variants.

Most species of wild animals have evolved to just one or a narrow range of colours, while flowers can have a range of vivid colours, presumably to attract a variety of insects.

As far as I know, the anemones aren't trying to attract their prey - it just arrives on the current. So why are they so vivid and so varied?

George Gall, Truro, Cornwall, UK

(Image: Kunstformen der Natur by Ernst Haeckel / Wikimedia Commons)

Editorial status: In magazine.

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Answered by F. Lerman-Russak
on 2009-06-18 00:16:06

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Vivid coloration in animals serve not only as a lure, but frequently as a warning.Sea Anemones are poisonous.Closely related to the jellyfish, they harbor stingers that inject neurotoxins and other poisons into their hapless prey.Their coloration is quite probably evolved as a warning to those swimming neighbors who would like to nibble upon them for a tasty snack.

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-17 17:02:00

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Last edited on: 2010-03-17 13:21:33

Categories: Animals.

Tags: evolution, colour, anemone, jewelanemone.

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Why are jewel anemones so brightly coloured?

Most species of wild animals have evolved to just one or a narrow range of colours, while flowers can have a range of vivid colours, presumably to attract a variety of insects.

As far as I know, the anemones aren't trying to attract their prey - it just arrives on the current. So why are they so vivid and so varied?

George Gall, Truro, Cornwall, UK

(Image: Kunstformen der Natur by Ernst Haeckel / Wikimedia Commons)

Editorial status: In magazine.

(no votes)

There are 9 answer(s) for this question. View answers | Submit an answer

Answered by Lerman-Russak
on 2009-06-18 00:19:11

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Additionally, anemones evolved alongside the clownfish, so that coloration of the anemone often serves as the clownfishes#39; camouflage.

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-17 17:02:00

Member status
none

Last edited on: 2010-03-17 13:21:33

Categories: Animals.

Tags: evolution, colour, anemone, jewelanemone.

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Why are jewel anemones so brightly coloured?

Most species of wild animals have evolved to just one or a narrow range of colours, while flowers can have a range of vivid colours, presumably to attract a variety of insects.

As far as I know, the anemones aren't trying to attract their prey - it just arrives on the current. So why are they so vivid and so varied?

George Gall, Truro, Cornwall, UK

(Image: Kunstformen der Natur by Ernst Haeckel / Wikimedia Commons)

Editorial status: In magazine.

(no votes)

There are 9 answer(s) for this question. View answers | Submit an answer

Answered by Norman
on 2009-06-18 19:01:27

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I#39;m not convinced about anemones stinging.I had a cold water marine tank with local prawns and beadlet anemones, among other creatures, in it. I often noticed a prawn with its antenna caught by an anemone. You#39;d think the antenna would be quite a sensitive part of the prawn, but the prawn didn#39;t pay any attention and would stay put for several minutes until something called it away, and it tugged itself free.There wouldn#39;t be a lot of evolutionary advantage in an anemone stinging, would there? Paralysing and harpooning, yes, but not stinging.

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Asked by Michael Marshall
on 2009-06-17 17:02:00

Member status
none

Last edited on: 2010-03-17 13:21:33

Categories: Animals.

Tags: evolution, colour, anemone, jewelanemone.

Report abuse

Why are jewel anemones so brightly coloured?

Most species of wild animals have evolved to just one or a narrow range of colours, while flowers can have a range of vivid colours, presumably to attract a variety of insects.

As far as I know, the anemones aren't trying to attract their prey - it just arrives on the current. So why are they so vivid and so varied?

George Gall, Truro, Cornwall, UK

(Image: Kunstformen der Natur by Ernst Haeckel / Wikimedia Commons)

Editorial status: In magazine.

(no votes)

There are 9 answer(s) for this question. View answers | Submit an answer

Answered by Anonymous
on 2009-06-24 01:51:00

(no votes)

Well anemones do indeed sting, but the stinging cells (blastocysts) in different species (be they jellyfish or anemone) vary in the depth of tissue they can penetrate. Human skin (even on our very sensitive fingers) is an effective barrier to many types of anemone so I would imagine that the firm covering on a prawn#39;s antenna would be also?

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