| AFRICAN OPEN-BILLED STORK |
| Anastomus lamelligerus |
|
Range: |
South Africa, Sahara, Madagascar |
African opened-billed storks are black and brown and have a distinctive bill. The bill is long, brown and has a nutcracker- like gap in the middle. The gap is used to extract prey from their shell. The storks use a unique technique for opening unwilling mussels. They collect the muscles and leave them in the sun until they open on their own. The storks create their nests out of sticks, twigs, and grass. The storks build their nests in trees or reedbeds. After 80 days of breading the storks will hatch 3-4 eggs.
|
| Habitat: |
Tropical conditions, marshes, floodplains and swamps |
| Diet: |
Snail and mussels |
| Status: |
Not listed |
| Approximate Dimensions of Adult: |
Length: 94 cm
Wingspan: 180 cm
Weight: 1.1 kg |
| Lifespan: |
Up to 30 years |
| Reproduction & Offspring: |
Incubation takes 80 days. |
|