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SPECIES PROFILE
Asian Openbill (Anastomus oscitans)
Anastomus
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Wetlands marshes rice fields
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Ciconiiformes
FAMILY
Ciconiidae
GENUS
Anastomus
📋 Description
SIZE
80-90 cm long 1-1.5 kg
COLORATION
Grey-white with open bill black wings
ADAPTATIONS
Gap in bill for snail extraction long legs for wading
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Wetlands marshes rice fields
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
REPRODUCTION
Lays 2-4 eggs in tree nests incubated 25-30 days
DIET DETAILS
Snails molluscs insects
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Wetland drainage pollution
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Snail Specialists: Asian Openbills forage with 1.2 kg bodies eating 200 grams of snails daily in Chilika's wetlands. Their open bills are adapted for snails.
2
Colonial Nesters: These storks cover 3000 sq km in Odisha's marshes nesting in trees. Habitat loss threatens their snail prey.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Chilika Lake in Odisha
Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in Rajasthan
Sundarbans National Park in West Bengal
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Watch Asian openbills foraging in snail-rich wetlands
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
October-March Dry season concentrates prey for spotting openbills
