Red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis, also known as the Japanese or Manchurian crane, photographed in east Asia.
Image: Huajin Sun/National Geographic.
Question: This highly migratory Asian species has been the cause of an international diplomatic dispute. Why?
Response: This is an adult Red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis, also known as the Japanese or Manchurian crane. This is a monomorphic species, so males and females look alike. However, males are usually a little larger and heavier than females, although this is not usually apparent in the field. Speaking of size, this is the largest of the cranes; reaching a height of 1.5 metres (5 feet) and weighing as much as 11 kilos (25 pounds).
This rare species is very important throughout many Asian cultures, and for this reason, was chosen to be the national animal of China. However, that decision was deferred because the red-crowned crane's scientific name translates as "Japanese crane".
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