The openbill storks or openbills are two species of stork (family Ciconiidae) in the genus Anastomus. They are large wading birds characterized by large bills, the mandibles of which do not meet except at the tip. This feature develops only in the adults. Both species feed predominantly on molluscs. The roof of the upper bill is fringed with plate-like structures ("lamellae") in the African openbill, but these are absent in the Asian openbill.[2][3]

Quick Facts Scientific classification, Type species ...
Openbill storks
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African openbill by Huet & Prêtre
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ciconiidae
Genus: Anastomus
Bonnaterre, 1791
Type species
Ardea oscitans[1]
Boddaert, 1783
Species
Synonyms
  • Hians Lacepede, 1799
  • Rhynchochasme Hermann, 1804
  • Empharis Rafinesque, 1815 (Nom. Nov.)
  • Apertirostra Drapiez, 1822
  • Chaenoramphe Dumont, 1817
  • Chaenoramphus Thon, 1830 (Emend.)
  • Chenoramphus Gray, 1848 (Emend.)
  • Hiator Reichenbach, 1852-53
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Taxonomy

The genus Anastomus was erected by the French naturalist Pierre Bonnaterre in 1791.[4] The type species was subsequently designated as the Asian openbill (Anastomus oscitans).[5][6] The name Anastomus is from the Ancient Greek αναστομοω anastomoō meaning "to furnish with a mouth" or "with mouth wide-opened".[7]

There are two species of openbilled storks:[8]

More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Anastomus Bonnaterre, 1791 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
African openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus
Temminck, 1823

Two subspecies
  • A. l. lamelligerus
  • A. l. madagascariensis
A resident breeder in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Madagascar
Map of range
Size: measuring 80–94 cm (31–37 in) and weighing 1–1.3 kg (2.2–2.9 lb)

Habitat:

Diet: aquatic snails and fresh water mussels
 LC 


Asian openbill

Anastomus oscitans
(Boddaert, 1783)
A resident breeder in tropical southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Southeast Asia.
Map of range
Size: 68 cm (27 in) height (81 cm (32 in) long).

Habitat:

Diet:
 LC 


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References

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