So, they befriended a little bird known as the Egyptian Plover Bird or the ‘Crocodile Bird’. If the adult leaves the nest, it smooths sand over the eggs, though if it is frightened the job may be hasty. [2] According to Herodotus, the crocodiles lie on the shore with their mouths open and a bird called "trochilus" flies into the crocodiles' mouths so as to feed on decaying meat lodged between the crocodiles' teeth. Your email address will not be published. They made a deal, you see; free food for the Plover and clean teeth for the Croc! There is a special kind of friendship between the crocodile and the little plover … Growing up in a small town, Li Nan En (Zhang Tian Ai) has always had a passion for traditional Chinese culture and architecture. These birds vary from species to species, each of which has different plumage with a variety of colors and patterns. The adults bury the chicks in the sand temporarily if danger threatens. Find professional Crocodile Plover videos and stock footage available for license in film, television, advertising and corporate uses. [6], The image by Warren Photographic showing an Egyptian plover apparently inside the mouth of a Nile crocodile is stated on its website to be "[a] digital reconstruction of [the] popular myth attributed to Herodotus, 5th Century BC. As the afternoon wore on, the plover continued to clean its beloved crocodile. Crocodile and Plover Bird (2019) Crocodile and Plover Bird. Growing up in a small town, Li Nan En (Zhang Tian Ai) has always had a passion for traditional Chinese culture and architecture. The remaining upperpart plumage is blue-grey, and the underparts are orange. The Egyptian plover bird sees the invitation, An old crocodile can grow up to seven meters in length, and even longer! While you as a human can floss your teeth to clean out any leftover bits that may get stuck in them, Crocodiles don’t know how to floss (and I don’t think you’ll find floss in the wild)! It feeds by pecking for insects. The bird just eats leftover food and the Crocodile gets dental insurance. And the crocodile … Crocodiles on the river Nile are the ones that benefit from their service. The chicks may drink water from the adult's belly feathers. The Plover actually hops right into the beast's mouth! The Greek historian Herodotus wrote that crocodiles allowed the bird to enter their mouths to remove debris and parasites from their teeth … I merely want to give a huge thumbs up for the great data you could have correct here on this post. The species is one of several plovers doubtfully associated with the "trochilus" bird mentioned in a supposed cleaning symbiosis with the Nile crocodile. [3] The identification of the trochilus with any particular plover is doubtful, as is the cleaning symbiosis itself; no known photographic evidence exists,[a][b] and the written accounts are considered suspect by the biologist Thomas Howell. Crocodile bird, (Pluvianus aegyptius), also called Egyptian plover, shorebird belonging to the family Glareolidae (order Charadriiformes). After landing, members of a pair greet each other by raising their wings in an elaborate ceremony that shows off the black and white markings. SmallScience © 2020. Africa. As you know, Crocodiles are predators and eat meat. The chicks are precocial, and can run as soon as they are hatched and feed themselves shortly afterwards. As you know, Crocodiles are predators and eat meat. The growth process is very slow, but continues throughout its life. Dr. N. Krishnan The Egyptian plover (Pluvianus aegyptius), also known as the crocodile bird, is a wader, the only member of the genus Pluvianus. found a simple way to rebuild my teeth and gums and get rid of tooth decay. The call is a high-pitched krrr-krrr-krrr. Egyptian plovers and crocodiles have a unique symbiotic relationship. Pluvianus aegyptius, Print, The Egyptian plover (Pluvianus aegyptius), also known as the crocodile bird, is a wader, the only member of the genus Pluvianus. If the crocodiles hungry, lets hope the Plover has life insurance! TIFR, 1998. Published February 21, 2017. The crocodile bird is a courser that derives its name from its frequent association with the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). (2019) A story about young people hoping to pioneer architectural improvements that will benefit the generations to come. The plover and crocodile exist in a symbiotic relationship – the plover pulls the annoying bits of meat and parasites out of the crocodile’s teeth and gums for its own food. A stone-faced genius meets his opposite and they clash from the start. The Small Science volumes are beautifully produced, the style is engaging and the drawings and graphics are very nice too (I loved the page border that ended with a spider at one end, and a pencil at the other! The Egyptian Plover Bird, as the name suggests is found in Egypt in Africa. The rest of the head is white. The flight feathers are brilliant white crossed by a black bar. Hi there! I will likely be coming once more to your weblog for much more soon. For the most part, these birds are relatively small, and usually have light or dark colored feathers to match the beach or rocks. When a crocodile feels the need for a good tooth cleaning it will sit with its mouth wide open. The Egyptian plover is a striking and unmistakable species. This wonderful and very well written article reminded me