Aramidae Limpkin
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Introduction
The Limpkin often walks with what seems to be a light-footed step coordinated with movements of the neck and head, suggesting to some a limping gait. Throughout the Neotropics, its range shadows that of the large and widespread apple snail. To fit this diet, Limpkins have evolved a subtly asymmetric bill, with the lower bill bearing a shallow scoop that is just the right curvature and sharpness to slide into a shell to extract the snail. The Limpkin has a variety of local names, most of which relate to its great diversity of calls and cries. The screams of this bird, heard on a dark, steamy night, can have a blood-curdling effect on unaccustomed human listeners.
Habitat
The Limpkin is found in a wide variety of lowland, freshwater wetlands throughout the Neotropics, from wooded swamps through more open wetlands.
Diet and Foraging
The Limpkin’s primary food is Pomacea apple snails, but it also feeds on a variety of other snail species and mussels. Limpkins use their specially shaped bill to extract snails from their shells. They hold their prey in their feet, and use their bill to cut the muscles holding the snail in its shell, then proceed to remove it and eat it whole.
Breeding
Limpkins are monogamous with biparental care, nesting in a wide variety of locations. They may build their nest on the ground, as a floating mat, in a tree, or in dense grasses. Nests are constructed from whatever is within reach of the nest site, including grasses and other aquatic vegetation, sticks, leaves, and moss. Females typically lay 4 to 7 eggs, and incubation takes about 27 days. Both parents are active in nest-building, incubation, and caring for the chicks. Chicks remain at the nest for a week, and then leave in the company of the parents. Parents remove snails from the shells for the chicks, and the chicks eat them whole.
Conservation Status
The Limpkin faces no immediate conservation concerns.
Systematics History
Although the Limpkin was long a taxonomic enigma, most recent genetic and morphological studies are consistent in placing it within Gruiformes (Cracraft 1981, Livezey & Zusi 2001, 2007, Ericson et al. 2006a, Fain et al. 2007, Hackett et al. 2008). These studies further indicate that Aramidae and Gruidae are sister taxa, and, taken together, they are in turn sister to Psophiidae.
Conservation Status
Least Concern |
100%
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Near Threatened |
0%
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Vulnerable |
0%
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Endangered |
0%
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Critically Endangered |
0%
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Extinct in the Wild |
0%
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Extinct |
0%
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Not Evaluated |
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Data Deficient |
0%
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Unknown |
0%
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Data provided by IUCN (2023) Red List. More information