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  • Smart Learning for All

  • Why are flamingos pink?

  • Wait.

  • I will explain.

  • A baby flamingo is not pink.

  • It is actually born with grey feathers.

  • So, does it spray paint itself with pink color?

  • No.

  • Flamingos get their pink or orange color from their food which is mainly algae and shrimps.

  • These organisms contain carotenoids.

  • Carotenoids are reddish orange colored pigments.

  • When a flamingo eats algae and shrimps, its liver extracts the colored pigments.

  • The pigments are then absorbed by fats.

  • These fats start depositing in the flamingo's growing feathers.

  • Which eventually cause the flamingo to turn pink or orange.

  • Now, an interesting fact is that we also eat fruits that contain carotenoids.

  • Such as carrots, apricots, mangoes, etc.

  • But we do not eat enough of these fruits for them to affect our skin color.

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Smart Learning for All

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