Posted on 07/20/2008 1:04:29 PM PDT by Daffynition
A pair of conjoined barn swallows, attached at the hip by skin and possibly muscle tissue, will be sent to the Smithsonian Institution for study and examination, Arkansas wildlife officials said Friday.
If confirmed, officials say it could prove to be an incredibly rare find — a set of conjoined twins among birds. "I can't even say it's one in a million — it's probably more than that," said Karen Rowe, an ornithologist with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. "There's just very little to no records of such a thing."
The birds, found by a landowner in White County earlier this week, fell out of a nest as a healthy sibling flew off to learn how to hunt with its parents, Rowe said. The birds first appeared to have only three legs, but further examination found a fourth leg tucked up underneath the skin connecting the pair.
Rowe said the landowner likely kept the birds for a day before calling wildlife officials. By the time officials arrived, the two birds refused to eat. One of the birds died early Friday morning and a veterinarian later euthanized the other.
While conjoined twins have been documented in humans, other mammals and reptiles, finding conjoined birds is difficult, as they likely die before being discovered, Rowe said. X-rays of the pair found each bird was fully formed, Rowe said. Scientists at the Smithsonian will examine the birds to determine whether they were fraternal twins or identical twins. Rowe said the birds would have had to come from a double-yolk egg.
Science shall have to wait to answer the question: "What is the airspeed of a pair of conjoined swallows carrying a coconut?"
Wait a minute! Supposing two swallows carried it together?
African or European? </Holy Grail reference>
They should be able to carry two coconuts! ;)
The rare Piasecki swallow.
Poor things.
Global warming. Just ask the inventor of the internet!!
African swallow = Moesha Lewinskioto
European swallow = Monique Lewinskidreau
I wouldn’t mind be acquired by Boeing. ;)
Egrets ... I'm sure she's had a few...
I can’t even say it’s one in a million — it’s probably more than that,” said Karen Rowe, an ornithologist with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. “There’s just very little to no records of such a thing.”
&&&
Good grief! Karen is really eloquent, isn’t she?
That is the kind of egrets I would like to have.
Is that an Egret or an Egress? I hope it’s an Egress as I must be leaving!
Well, I think it is just a pigment of your imagination. ;)
Well...we now know where Michael Jackson’s other glove has been.
HAHAHA! Thanks for the laugh! ;D
LOL!
I know there has to be a good story behind that hilarious picture ... but without a TV, I don’t get it ... but it looks like a South Park creation. 8-I
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