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Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)
French: Jabiru d’Asie German: Riesenstorch Spanish: Jabirú asiático
Taxonomy: Mycteria asiatica Latham, 1790, India.
Sometimes placed in monospecific genus Xenorhynchus, but close similarity to E. senegalensis in breeding habits, behaviour and morphology demand their treatment as congeners. Race australis has occasionally been considered distinct enough to warrant treatment as a separate species on basis largely of claimed differences in neck iridescence, but these putative differences do not appear to be valid; genetic distance between individuals of the two forms was found to be notable, although sample size minimal and included a captive bird. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution
E. a. asiaticus (Latham, 1790) – S & E Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and mainland SE Asia; formerly to Malay Peninsula (now extirpated).
E. a. australis (Shaw, 1800) – S New Guinea, N & E Australia. |
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