Threskiornis solitarius
The Réunion Ibis (Threskiornis solitarius) was a medium-sized, flight-capable ibis endemic to Réunion Island, now sadly extinct. Standing approximately 65 cm (26 inches) tall, historical accounts describe it as having predominantly white plumage, adorned with striking black at the tips of its wings and tail, though some descriptions vary. Its most distinctive features included a long, slender, downcurved black bill characteristic of ibises, robust black legs, and potentially a knob-like struc...
The Réunion Ibis inhabited the humid forested interior, marshy lowland areas, and coastal plains of Réunion Island, likely ranging from sea level up to moderate elevations where suitable foraging grounds were available.
The Réunion Ibis primarily fed on terrestrial invertebrates such as insects, worms, and mollusks, along with small reptiles and amphibians, foraging by probing its long, curved bill into soft soil and mud.
Historical accounts of the Réunion Ibis's behavior are limited, but inferences can be drawn from related extant species and observer notes. It was likely a largely terrestrial forager, spending much of its day probing soft substrates for food, potentially solitary or in small family groups. Its a...
The Réunion Ibis was strictly endemic to Réunion Island, a volcanic island located in the Mascarene Archipelago of the western Indian Ocean. Its historical distribution covered the diverse landscapes of the island, including humid forested interiors, marshy wetlands, and coastal plains, from sea ...
Extinct
- The Réunion Ibis was initially misidentified for centuries, often confused with the "Réunion Solitaire," a flightless pigeon related to the dodo, due to ambiguous historical accounts. - Its true identity as an ibis was only scientifically confirmed in 1995 after the discovery of subfossil remai...