Specialized diet of the snail kite
A snail kite hunting for apple snails along the Iguaçu River in South America.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.This little guy can dance to the “Y.M.C.A.”Media Editor: Lee Goldstein
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn more about climate change and the transition to renewable energy in this interview with Phil the Fixer.
-
© MinuteEarth (A Britannica Publishing Partner)The role of the Rocky Mountain locust (Melanoplus spretus) in the Grasshopper Plague of 1874–75 (which is also known as the Great North American Locust Plague), and the insect's mysterious disappearance that followed.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Formation of a waterfall in Iceland.
-
Vincent Urban & Clemens Krüger (A Britannica Publishing Partner)A survey of South America's diverse landscapes.
-
Created and produced by QA International. © QA International, 2010. All rights reserved. www.qa-international.comThe distribution of the seven continents.
-
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Atacama Desert, Chile.
Transcript
The Iguacu waterfalls in South America - few animals can survive in such extreme conditions, but the snail kite has a special relationship with the river. The raptor has an extemely specialized diet. It feeds almost exclusively on apple snails. The kite flies slowly over the turbulent waters. With its acute vision, it can detect the snails even from a great height. It’s a successful hunter and has no trouble capturing its passive prey. The curved beak is perfect for extracting the soft snails from their shells.