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avancna — Deinodidunculus gregarius
Published: 2006-03-17 16:30:53 +0000 UTC; Views: 598; Favourites: 5; Downloads: 11
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Description
Deinodidunculus gregarius is found throughout the coastlines of Microthalassa. The species gathers together in a single "super-flock" that comprises of around 5 billion individuals. The super-flock migrates counter-clockwise around Microthalassa, in an irregular fashion, descending upon forest or marshland, and leaving once all edible vegetable matter has been stripped away.Individuals use their hooked beaks to shear away leaves, tear off bark, and peel open fruits. They also feed on any insects they can catch, and eagerly flock to carrion, in order to get at bones to increase their calcium intake.
None of the species of Deinodidunculus fares well in captivity, D. gregarius in particular. They are all keenly social animals, and will wither away in capitivity if separated from their groups for more than a few days.
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Comments: 5
Beautiful picture! 
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I guess the "super flock" was modeled after Ectopistes migratorius three-day-long sky-darkening flock. Pity such a spectacle isn't extant anymore in our world
Well, I like the colors of the birds, à la tropical pigeon, and the way they're huddled over their handy work, stems exsuding sap and all. I bet the social dynamics of this species is something to watch in awe.
And you needn't go on about what these would do to my car. I don't even have a car for that matter.
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Yes, it was based off of a hybridization between Ectopistes migratorius and Didunculus strigoides...
Actually, D. gregarius is more of a pulper, than a pooper, in that, it tends to squeeze out all of the nutrious juices of the food it eats in its crop, then regurgitates the now-worthless pulp. It poops out small, dry pellets, as it's very effecient in reclaiming water through its digestive system.
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Indeed those are good adaptations as resources tend to dwindle pretty rapidly in such close quarters 
Oh and you need your signature shortened as the text's cut off.
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They're somewhat selective feeders, at least when it comes to vegetation, as they don't eat just any old plant (they prefer young plants, in fact). Most plants deter Deinodidunculus through exceptionally tough leaves, low water content, large and numerous thorns, alternative photosynthetic surfaces (often in conjunction with large and numerous thorns), and occassionally, poisons.
Thorns and poisons don't work too well, though, as they often simply shear off and attempt to eat thorns, too, or are simply used as a foothold while it eats, and Deinodidunculus are capable of metabolizing a wide variety of organic compounds, thanks partly in part because of the huge amount of antibodies and macrophages secreted in their crops.
...
And so much for Charles Darwin.
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