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Description
Name: "Seagull beaked Medusa"
Length: (35 cm)
Weight: up to 190 grams
Color: Dark blue plumage with light blue bib
Species: Medusatrogon larus
Classification: XII (Alien species)
Population: estimated around 750 thousand to 1 million
Notes: The medusatrogons are a distinctive group of pantropical trogonotheres. Unlike most other examples of avian sexual dimorphism, the plumage of the males and females are identical. Instead, males are easily distinguished from females by the possession of elaborate crests of wattles that are inflated and animated by a complex network of blood vessels. As a consequence, male medusatrogons have their lifespans literally cut in half due to an enhanced chance of debilitating or fatal strokes and aneurisms. Most males tend to live for, at most, 5 years, whereas females live up 10 or 15 years, a few living up to 30 years in captivity. Unsurprisingly, males are polygamous, having no literal time to aid their mates in raising the clutch, instead, devoting all of their efforts in maintaining their territories, or feeding on fruit or small animals. Surprisingly, females, in turn, are often polyandrous, accepting the advances of any suitable male.

Enough of that.

M. larus, named for the red spot reminiscent of Terran seagulls, is one of the better observed birds of the Green Well rainforest in Anak Palao. Here, a male is displaying for two interested females.

Description
Name: "Seagull beaked Medusa"
Length: (35 cm)
Weight: up to 190 grams
Color: Dark blue plumage with light blue bib
Species: Medusatrogon larus
Classification: XII (Alien species)
Population: estimated around 750 thousand to 1 million
Notes: The medusatrogons are a distinctive group of pantropical trogonotheres. Unlike most other examples of avian sexual dimorphism, the plumage of the males and females are identical. Instead, males are easily distinguished from females by the possession of elaborate crests of wattles that are inflated and animated by a complex network of blood vessels. As a consequence, male medusatrogons have their lifespans literally cut in half due to an enhanced chance of debilitating or fatal strokes and aneurisms. Most males tend to live for, at most, 5 years, whereas females live up 10 or 15 years, a few living up to 30 years in captivity. Unsurprisingly, males are polygamous, having no literal time to aid their mates in raising the clutch, instead, devoting all of their efforts in maintaining their territories, or feeding on fruit or small animals. Surprisingly, females, in turn, are often polyandrous, accepting the advances of any suitable male.

Enough of that.

M. larus, named for the red spot reminiscent of Terran seagulls, is one of the better observed birds of the Green Well rainforest in Anak Palao. Here, a male is displaying for two interested females.