Leptoptilos robustus (SciiFii)

The giant adjutant (Leptoptilos robustus, name meaning "robust-thin soft feathers"), also known as the Asian giant marabou stork, is a species of large-bodied wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae, and belongs to a subfamily, Leptoptilini. It originally lived during the Pleistocene epoch in the Quaternary period, which lasted from about 2.5 million years ago to 11,000 years ago, in what is now the island of Flores, Indonesia, and was once extinct, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced throughout Indonesia to help boost biodiversity. It stands on average at about 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) tall and can weigh up to 16 kilograms (35 lb) when fully grown. Much like its relatives, it is typically a scavenger of carrion and compete with carnivorous mammals, however, due to not much competitors from predatory mammals on many Indonesian islands such as Flores, the giant adjutants living on those islands are also predatory, preying mainly on large rat species, small Komodo dragon and other fauna smaller than itself, even the famous Homo floresiensis as well as young of larger animals such as modern-styled humans (Homo sapiens sapiens). The giant adjutants breeds in colonies, starting during the dry season. The female lays two to three eggs in a small nest made of sticks; eggs hatch after an incubation period of 30 days. Their young reach sexual maturity at 4 years of age. Lifespan is 41 years in captivity and 25 years in wild. The conservation status of the giant adjutant is Vulnerable due to some habitat loss, persecution, and historic poaching, however, the giant adjutant is a protected species.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii