Ibis

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

For other uses, see Ibis (disambiguation).

Ibises
Straw-necked Ibis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Threskiornithidae Subfamily: Threskiornithinae Poche, 1904
Genera
Threskiornis Pseudibis Thaumatibis Geronticus Nipponia Bostrychia Theristicus Cercibis Mesembrinibis Phimosus Eudocimus Plegadis Lophotibis

Ibises are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae. They all have long down curved bills, and usually feed as a group, probing mud for food items, usually crustaceans. Most species nest in trees, often with spoonbills or herons.

The word ibis comes from Greek, originally borrowed from Ancient Egyptian hîb.

[edit] Folklore

According to folklore, the ibis is the last form of wildlife to take shelter prior to a hurricane and the first to reappear after the storm passes. The Sacred Ibis was also an object of religious veneration in ancient Egypt, particularly associated with the god, Thoth.

[edit] Species

• Genus Threskiornis
  • Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
  • Madagascar Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis bernieri
  • Réunion Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis solitarius extinct
  • Black-headed Ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus
  • Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis molucca
  • Straw-necked Ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis
• Genus Pseudibis
  • Indian Black Ibis, Pseudibis papillosa
  • White-shouldered Ibis, Pseudibis davisoni
• Genus Thaumatibis
  • Giant Ibis, Thaumatibis gigantea
• Genus Geronticus
  • Northern Bald Ibis, Geronticus eremita
  • Southern Bald Ibis, Geronticus calvus
• Genus Nipponia
  • Japanese Crested Ibis, Nipponia nippon
• Genus Bostrychia
  • Olive Ibis, Bostrychia olivacea
  • Dwarf Olive Ibis, Bostrychia bocagei
  • Spot-breasted Ibis, Bostrychia rara
  • Hadada Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash
  • Wattled Ibis, Bostrychia carunculata
• Genus Theristicus
  • Plumbeous Ibis, Theristicus caerulescens
  • Buff-necked Ibis, Theristicus caudatus
  • Andean Ibis, Theristicus branickii
  • Black-faced Ibis, Theristicus melanopis
• Genus Cercibis
  • Sharp-tailed Ibis, Cercibis oxycerca
• Genus Mesembrinibis
  • Green Ibis, Mesembrinibis cayennensis
• Genus Phimosus
  • Whispering Ibis, Phimosus infuscatus
• Genus Eudocimus
  • American White Ibis, Eudocimus albus
  • Scarlet Ibis, Eudocimus ruber
• Genus Plegadis
  • Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
  • White-faced Ibis, Plegadis chihi
  • Puna Ibis, Plegadis ridgwayi
• Genus Lophotibis
  • Madagascar Crested Ibis, Lophotibis cristata

Sacred Ibis

Australian White Ibis

American White Ibis

Scarlet Ibis

Young Scarlet Ibis behind a fence

[edit] External links

• Ibis videos on the Internet Bird Collection