Double Crested Cormorant

Phalacrocorax auritus

The Double Crested Cormorant, also known as Phalacrocorax auritus, is found in marine and aquatic habitats across North America.  The domain is eukarya, kingdom animalia, phylum chordata, class aves, pelecaniformes, family phalacrocoracidae, genus Phalacrocorax, and species auritus.  The Double Crested Cormorant has bilateral symmetry, meaning if you split a line down the front and folded the sides, they would match up.  This organism is all black and very dark brown, it has an orange beak, webbed feet, and a black, slick belly.  The Double Crested Cormorant  Did you know a group of Double Crested Cormorants are called a “gulp”.  The Double-crested Cormorant eats insects, fish, and crustaceans. This organism is eaten by pelicans, owls, and bald eagles. A behavioral adaptation for the Double-crested Cormorant is that some migrate to warmer places in the winter. Another behavioral adaptation for this organism is that they call to each other, allowing them to alert others if in trouble, etc. A structural adaptation for the Double-crested Cormorant is that they have oil on their wings which helps them to glide through the water faster, helping them catch fish easily.  This organism is a heterotroph and endothermic.