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February 18
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:iconeurwentala:
The shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) is a huge (almost as tall as I am), somewhat stork-like bird. It has a bill as wide as a pelican's, but with a nasty hooked tip. In the wild, it lives in the wetlands of Africa. The shoebill can be found mostly where there are plently of papyrus sedges and lungfish - as it nests in one and eats the other.

The relationships between the shoebill and other birds have been unclear for a long time. It might be closely related to pelicans, or cormorants, or possibly fit somewhere between the pelican-cormorant clade and storks in the family tree. Or it might be more closely related to albatrosses and petrels.

It's also one of the few occasionally quadrupedal birds and has a habit of eating baby crocodiles.
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:iconbensen-daniel:
Occasionally quadrupedal?? Dang! Do you know of any pictures of videos of that behavior?
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:iconeurwentala:
Unfortunately I couldn't find any yet.
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:iconfragillimus335:
Mood: Joy ~Fragillimus335 Feb 18, 2013  Hobbyist General Artist
A fitting descendant to the original T. rex!
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:iconthemorlock:
~TheMorlock Feb 18, 2013  Student General Artist
SHOEBILL!
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:iconallison-beriyani:
Occasionally Quadrepedal?
a Knuckle-walking bird?
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:iconeurwentala:
Apparently, yes, according to Darren Naish: [link]
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:iconallison-beriyani:
So many flavors of awesome.
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