Question

The lifespan of a parrot is
(a) 15 years
(b) 20 years
(c) 25 years
(d) 140 years

Answer 1

Hint: Life span is the measure of the amount of time one or more members of that population have been noted to survive from birth to death. Parrots have a long life span.

Complete answer:
The life period of parrots is noted to be about 140 years. But the small parrots have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years like lovebirds, hanging parrots, and budgets. The kakapo is also known as owl parrot and can live up to 95 years. Major Mitchell's cockatoo or also known as Leadbeater's cockatoo is a medium- sized cockatoo that lived up to 83 years.
Additional information:
- There are approximately 372 varieties of parrot species and most of these parrots live in tropical areas. But some very unique parrots like the kea, kaka, and kakapo live in New Zealand.
- Parrots are often brightly colored and have curved bills or beaks, strong legs, and clawed feet. Parrots that are popular as pets are the budgerigar (budgie) and a cockatiel.
- Parrots are said to be one of the most intelligent bird species and they are some species known for imitating human voices.
- Most parrot species feed on seeds for energy and may even eat fruit, nectar, or small insects.
- There are 21 different species of cockatoo and they are usually in black, grey, or white plumage (feathers).
- Keas are large and intelligent parrots. They live in New Zealand’s South Island and are the world’s only alpine parrots that are known for their curiosity and their cheeky behavior near ski fields.
- Kakapos are endangered flightless parrots only around 130 are known to exist as of a record of 2010. They are active at night. Kakapos are also the world’s heaviest parrot and maybe around the weight of a cat.
- A parrot’s plumage has a special defense called Psittacofulvins which is a bacteria- resistant pigment that only parrots are known to produce. It protects the glorious plumage from degradation and gives the feathers their red, yellow, and green coloration.
So, the correct answer is ‘140 years’.

Note: Not all species have a life span some are said to be almost immortal. Some species of jellyfish-like Laodicea undulate and Aurelia are considered biologically immortal as they can revert to the polyp stage even after reproducing instead of dying as in other jellyfish. Even flatworms can live longer by continuous growth and binary fission.