The Siberian crane Leucogeranus leucogeranus, also known as the Siberian white crane or the snow crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes. Throughout Asia, the crane is a symbol of happiness and eternal youth. In Japan, the crane is one of the mystical or holy creatures others include the dragon and the tortoise and symbolizes good fortune and longevity because of its fabled life span of a thousand years. Cranes also have shorter beaks than herons. ... For example, there`s a white phase of the great blue heron that can easily be confused with the great egret, which is also large and white. Cattle and snowy egrets are both medium sized white birds. Records exist, however, of particular cranes living for more than eighty-two years. The lifespan of Grus leucogeranus in the wild is unknown at this time, but predicted longevity is shorter than highest lifespans reached in captivity.
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