Giant Ibis

Taxobox
name = Giant Ibis
status = CR | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = down
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Ciconiiformes
familia = Threskiornithidae
subfamilia = Threskiornithinae
genus = "Thaumatibis"
genus_authority = Elliot, 1877
species = "T. gigantea"
binomial = "Thaumatibis gigantea"
binomial_authority = (Oustalet, 1877)
synonyms = "Pseudibis gigantea"

The Giant Ibis "Thaumatibis gigantea", the only species in the monotypic genus "Thaumatibis", is a wading bird of the ibis family, Threskiornithidae. It is confined to northern Cambodia, with a few birds surviving in extreme southern Laos.

It occurs in marshes, pools, wide rivers and seasonal water-meadows in deciduous, lowland forest. It eats invertebrates, crustaceans, small amphibians and reptiles. Nothing is known of its breeding behaviour, but it probably nests in trees.

This is, by far, the largest of the world's ibis. Adults are reportedly 102-106 cm (40-42 in) long and are estimated to weigh about 4.2 kg (9.3 lbs). The adults have dark plumage with naked, greyish head and upper neck.

This bird is considered to be critically endangered due to hunting, disturbance and lowland deforestation. The current population is estimated in 100 pairs.

References

* Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is critically endangered and the criteria used

External links

* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3800&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet.]
* [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Thaumatibis_gigantea/ ARKive pics and videos]