Threskiornithidae Skull Replica or Scarlet Ibis measures 8.0 in. Scarlet Ibis Skull is museum quality polyurethane cast. Made in USA. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw).
The Threskiornithidae or Scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) is a species of ibis in the bird family Threskiornithidae.
It inhabits tropical South America and part of the Caribbean. In form, it resembles most of the other twenty-seven extant species of Ibis, but its remarkably brilliant scarlet coloration makes it unmistakable.
It is one of the two national birds of Trinidad and Tobago, and its Tupi–Guarani name, guará, is part of the name of several municipalities along the coast of Brazil.
This medium-sized wader is a hardy, numerous, and prolific bird, and it has protected status around the world.
Adult Threskiornithidae or Scarlet Ibis plumage is virtually all scarlet. The feathers may show various tints and shades, but only the tips of their wings deviate from their namesake color.
Threskiornithidae or Scarlet ibis mating pairs build nests in a simple style, typically loose platforms of sticks. They roost in leaf canopies, mostly preferring the convenient shelter of young waterside mangrove trees.
Scarlet ibises like wet, muddy areas such as swamps, but for safety they build their nests in trees well above the water. If they can, they nest on islands, where their eggs and chicks are less likely to be in danger from predators.
To attract a female, the male Threskiornithidae or Scarlet Ibis will perform a variety of mating rituals such as preening, shaking, bill popping, head rubbing, and high flights.
As with most birds, mating does not involve any coupling or insertion: instead, a transfer of seminal fluids occurs during external contact between the cloacal openings.
After a gestation period of five to six days, the female lays a clutch of three to five smooth, matte eggs which typically incubate for 19 to 23 days.
After a successful courtship, pairs remain faithful and cohabitant, sharing parental responsibilities for the young.
Their distinctive long, thin bills are used to probe for food in soft mud or under plants. Popularly imagined to be eating only shrimp, a recent study in the Llanos has found that much of their diet consists of insects, of which the majority were scarabs and ground beetles.
One species in particular, a scarab beetle Dyscinetus dubius, formed a large part of the diet. Other insect prey include water beetles and water bugs.
They do eat a lot of shrimp and other similar fare like mollusks, small crabs and other crustaceans, such as crayfish.
The large quantity of shrimp and other red shellfish produces a surfeit of astaxanthin, a carotenoid which is the key component of the birds’ red pigmentation.
Frogs, small snakes, small fish, fruits and seeds are also occasional prey items for scarlet ibises. When kept in zoos, the birds’ diet often contains beetroot and carrot supplement to maintain color vibrancy in their plumage.
The Threskiornithidae or Scarlet Ibis is a sociable and gregarious bird, and very communally-minded regarding the search for food and the protection of the young. They live in flocks of thirty or more. Members stay close, and mating pairs arrange their nests in close proximity to other pairs in the same tree.
For protection, Scarlet ibis flocks often congregate in large colonies of several thousand individuals.
They also regularly participate in mixed flocks, gaining additional safety through numbers: storks, spoonbills, egrets, herons and ducks are all common companions during feedings and flights.
