Marabou Stork

 

Linnean classification Animalia, Chordata, Aves, Ciconiiformes, Ciconiidae, Leptoptilos, Leptoptilos crumenifer.

 

Regulator because it is a warm blooded animal and able to maintain its own optimal temperature without relying upon outside environments.

 

Migration because these animals are known for being in large groups and migrating for breeding season.

 

Consumer because it is a heterotroph and cannot make food for itself. It feeds on other organisms in order to obtain its nutrients.

 

Detritivore because it is a scavenger. This organism usually eats carrion or decaying meat and even feces. However if they had the chance, they will eat insects, small birds, eggs, to even human garbage.

 

Generalist because these animals are known to feed on nearly any food. Some marabou condition themselves to human trash and survive off any type of food available. They survive in many habitats such as urban areas of south africa to the sahara desert.

 

Niche: The marabou stork is known to inhabit all throughout Africa to even african dumps. As a scavenger, these animals are known to eat things considered putrid such as human trash and dead carcasses on the road. They follow around vultures to pick upon the leftovers and lash out to humans when they are not given food. Their unfeathered head shows their adaptation to burrowing their head into carcasses and consuming meat without blood clotting their feathers.