Source: Wikimedia Commons
Red-legged Seriema
AdvancedCariama cristata
A long-legged, long-necked ground bird of South American grasslands with a fan-shaped crest rising from the base of the bill. Its red bill and salmon legs stand out, and it kills prey by beating it repeatedly on the ground.
Difficulty
Advanced
Temperature
15〜30℃
Size
75-90 cm
Humidity
40〜60%
Diet
Omnivorous but mainly carnivorous: mice, chicks and insects, with a little plant matter
About
The red-legged seriema (Cariama cristata) is a ground-dwelling bird of South America, found from central and eastern Brazil through eastern Bolivia and Paraguay to Uruguay and central Argentina. Formerly placed in the Gruiformes, it is now usually put in its own order, Cariamiformes, and is the only species in its genus. It is greyish-brown with fine dark brown and black vermiculations, pale brown on the head, neck and breast and white on the belly. It has a red bill, very long salmon-coloured legs and yellow eyes, and soft feathers rise from the base of the bill in a fan-shaped crest. It favours grassland, thorny scrub, semi-arid woodland, savanna and ranchland up to 2,000 m. Wary and territorial, it lives singly, in pairs or in small family groups. It walks on the ground and runs faster than a person, fleeing at up to about 25 km/h. It eats insects, frogs, snakes and rodents, and kills vertebrate prey by picking it up in the bill and beating it repeatedly on the ground. Pairs duet loudly, mainly at dawn, to mark territory. Its loud alarm calls lead people to keep it as a guard for poultry. In Japan it is kept mainly in zoos and rarely offered to private keepers.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Size of the Red-legged Seriema
The Red-legged Seriema grows to 75-90 cm.
It is 75-90 cm long and weighs 1.5-2.2 kg, with long legs, neck and tail, males slightly larger.
Basic Info
Origin
Grassland and savanna of central and eastern South America (Brazil, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina)
Size
75-90 cm
Temperature
15〜30℃
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listedIUCN LC · Least Concern
Cariama cristata. This seriema is not listed in the CITES Appendices. Imports are subject to animal import notification under the Infectious Diseases Control Law, but no notification is needed to keep or transfer it within Japan. The IUCN assesses it as Least Concern.
Sources: Species+ search (Cariama cristata not listed) / IUCN Red List
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Red-legged Seriema Listings
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