Anastomus lamelligerus
The African Openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus) is a medium-sized stork, an enigmatic and highly specialized member of the Ciconiidae family, easily recognized by its uniquely structured bill. Averaging 90-94 cm (35-37 inches) in length with a wingspan of 140-150 cm (55-59 inches) and weighing around 1-1.5 kg (2.2-3.3 lbs), its most striking feature is the gaping space between the upper and lower mandibles, which only meet at the very tip, an adaptation crucial for its diet. Adults boast glossy...
Primarily inhabits freshwater wetlands, including swamps, floodplains, deltas, and the margins of lakes and rivers, typically found at low to moderate elevations.
Feeds almost exclusively on aquatic snails and freshwater mussels, extracting them with its specialized bill, but will also occasionally take frogs, crabs, fish, worms, and large insects.
African Openbills are highly social and diurnal birds, often observed foraging in large, loose flocks or congregating in communal roosts, typically in tall trees. Their unique foraging strategy involves wading in shallow water with their bill slightly ajar and submerged, sweeping it side-to-side ...
The African Openbill is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, extending from Senegal and Gambia in the west, eastward through the Sahel and Sudan to Ethiopia and Somalia, and southward through East Africa to Botswana and South Africa. This vast range encompasses a variety of freshwater we...
Least Concern
- The African Openbill's unique bill structure, with its distinct gap, is a perfect adaptation for holding and manipulating the shells of snails and mussels to extract their soft bodies. - They are often seen foraging in large, synchronized groups, sweeping their bills through the water in a meth...