ibis

ibis
/uy"bis/, n., pl. ibises, (esp. collectively) ibis.
1. any of several large wading birds of the family Threskiornithidae, of warm temperate and tropical regions, related to the herons and storks, and characterized by a long, thin, downward-curved bill. Cf. sacred ibis.
2. any of certain similar birds belonging to the stork family Ciconiidae, esp. the wood stork, Mycteria americana.
[1350-1400; ME < L ibis < Gk îbis < Egyptian hb]

* * *

Any of about 20 species of medium-sized wading birds (subfamily Threskiornithinae) of the same family as the spoonbills.

Ibises are found in all warm regions except on South Pacific islands. They wade in shallow lagoons, lakes, bays, and marshes, using their slender, down-curved bill to feed on small fishes and soft mollusks. Species range from 22 to 30 in. (55–75 cm) long. Ibises fly with neck and legs extended, alternately flapping and sailing. They usually breed in vast colonies.

* * *

▪ bird subfamily
 any of about 20 species of medium-sized wading birds constituting the subfamily Threskiornithinae of the family Threskiornithidae (order Ciconiiformes), which also includes the spoonbills. Ibises occur in all warm regions except on South Pacific islands. They wade in shallow lagoons, lakes, bays, and marshes, using their slender, down-curved bills to feed on small fishes and soft mollusks. They range in length from about 55 to 75 centimetres (22 to 30 inches). They fly with neck and legs extended, alternately flapping and sailing.

      Ibises usually breed in vast colonies, building compact stick nests low in bushes or trees and laying three to five eggs, usually dull white or mottled with brown.

 The glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) and its close relative the white-faced ibis (P. chihi) are small forms with dark reddish brown and glossy purplish plumage. As a group they are found throughout the warmer regions of the world.

      The hadada ibis, or hadada (Hagedashia hagedash), of Africa, is a greenish ibis known for its loud call.

      The straw-necked ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) is unknown outside Australia. It is less aquatic than the other species; its principal food is grasshoppers.

      The hermit ibis (Geronticus eremita), an endangered species, inhabits northern Africa and the Middle East. Its bill and the bare skin on its head are reddish. Breeding colonies once existed in central and southern Europe, Syria, and Algeria but are now known only in Turkey and Morocco.

      The Japanese, or crested, ibis (Nipponia nippon) is white with a red face. Also an endangered species, it was considered to be on the verge of extinction in the late 20th century.

      The sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopica), of southern Arabia and Africa south of the Sahara (and formerly of Egypt), was sacred to the ancient Egyptians. It is about 75 cm (30 in.) long, white with black in its wings, dark plumes on the lower back, and a bare black head and neck.

      The scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) inhabits northern South America; the white ibis (E. albus) ranges Central and North America.

      For wood storks, sometimes called wood ibises, see stork.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • ibis — [ ibis ] n. m. • 1537; mot lat. d orig. gr., empr. à l égyptien ♦ Oiseau (échassiers) des régions chaudes d Afrique et d Amérique, à bec long, mince et arqué. Ibis rouge d Amérique tropicale. Ibis sacré de la haute Égypte. Thot, dieu égyptien à… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • IBIS — Input/Output Buffer Information Specification, спецификация, описывающая поведенческие модели входных и выходных буферов микросхем, корпусов микросхем, а также всевозможных соединителей. Данная спецификация описывается стандартами EIA и ANSI (656 …   Википедия

  • Ibis — 〈m.; ses, se; Zool.〉 1. 〈i. w. S.〉 Angehöriger einer Familie kleiner Schreitvögel mit sichelförmig abwärtsgebogenem Schnabel: Threskiornithida 2. 〈i. e. S.〉 Heiliger Ibis mit schwarzem Kopf, galt im alten Ägypten als heilig: Threskiornis… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Ibis — I bis, n. [L. ibis, Gr. ?; of Egyptian origin.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any bird of the genus {Ibis} and several allied genera, of the family {Ibid[ae]}, inhabiting both the Old World and the New. Numerous species are known. They are large, wading birds,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ibis — ÍBIS, ibişi, s.m. Pasăre asemănătoare cu barza, de culoare albă (Threskionis aethiopica) sau roşie (Guara rubra), cu cioc lung şi curbat în jos, cu penajul alb sau roşu pe corp şi negru pe cap şi pe coadă, care trăieşte în ţările calde şi se… …   Dicționar Român

  • Ibis — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Ibis peut référer à : L ibis, un oiseau échassier à long cou et au bec recourbé. Hôtel Ibis, l un des plus vieux hôtels du Rwanda. Ibis, une chaîne d …   Wikipédia en Français

  • íbis — s. m. ou f. 2 núm. 1.  [Ornitologia] Gênero de aves pernaltas longirrostras e de bico curvo. 2. íbis sagrado: espécie de íbis adorado pelos antigos egípcios. 3. íbis vermelho: íbis da América.   ‣ Etimologia: latim ibis, idis …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • IBIS — ist der Name: einer Vogelart, siehe Ibisse einer Hotelmarke des französischen Accor Konzerns, siehe Ibis (Hotel) eines Bemessungssystems, das in der Postzustellung Deutsche Post AG verwendet wird Die Abkürzung IBIS steht für: Integriertes… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ibis — bezeichnet: Ibisse (Threskiornithinae), eine Vogelunterfamilie der Ibisse und Löffler in der Ordnung der Schreitvögel Ibis (Hotel), eine Hotelmarke Automobiles Ibis, ehemaliger französischer Automobilhersteller ein Bemessungssystem in der… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • ibis — ȋbis m DEFINICIJA 1. zool. ptica (Ibis religiosa, Threskiornis etiopica) iz reda rodarica (Ibididae); poznati fosilni nalazi stari 60 mil. godina, sveta ptica starih Egipćana, njezino dolijetanje pretkazivalo je dolazak poplavnih voda 2. (mn)… …   Hrvatski jezični portal

  • Ibis [1] — Ibis, 1) (Ibis Lacép., Falcinellus Bechst.), Gattung der Reiher; Schnabel lang, dünn, nach der Basis hin verdickt, fast vierkantig, ohne Kerbe an der Spitze u. mit Nasenlöchern, die auf dem Rücken desselben, nahe an der Basis stehen u. bis zur… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”