Kingdom Animalia Genus Fulica Phylum Chordata Rank Species | Family Rallidae Scientific name Fulica gigantea Higher classification Coot Order Gruiformes | |
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Similar Coot, Bird, Andean coot, Horned coot, Red‑fronted coot | ||
234 giant coot with frown clown and small paul
The giant coot (Fulica gigantea) is a species of coot from South America. It is found at lakes in the altiplano from central Peru, through western Bolivia, to north-eastern Chile and extreme north-western Argentina.
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00000 giant coot
Description
With a total length of 48–64 cm (19–25 in), it is the second largest extant member of the family Rallidae, after the takahe, and adults are considered functionally flightless. It is the only coot with reddish legs. It has a small white frontal shield. An adult male weighed 2.7 kg (6.0 lb) while three adult females weighed 2.03–2.4 kg (4.5–5.3 lb).
Breeding
As in the related horned coot, the giant coot is monogamous and the pair builds a huge nest in a highland lake. However, unlike the horned coot, the nest of the giant coot is primarily made of aquatic vegetation and – as it is fiercely territorial – it never forms colonies.
