Jamaican ibis (SciiFii)

The Jamaican ibis, Jamaican flightless ibis, clubbed-wing ibis, or club-winged ibis (Xenicibis xympithecus) is a species of bird of the ibis subfamily uniquely characterized by its club-like wings. The Jamaican ibis was once extinct since the early Holocene, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced to the rainforests, wetlands, and humid plains of Jamaica. It is the only living species in the genus Xenicibis, and one of only two flightless ibis genera, the other being the Moloka'i flightless ibis (Apteribis glenos) endemic to Hawaii. The Jamaican ibis is a carnivore that primarily feeds on insects, mollusks, and small fish. The Jamaican ibis has a unique modification of the carpometacarpus rendering it club-like. The metacarpal is enlarged and bowed distally with thickened walls, while the ulna and radius have been modified as well. This is a large ibis, weighing about 2 kg (70 oz). The Jamaican ibis uses its wings as weapons, in the manner of a club or flail, similar to the adaptations found in some mantis shrimps (Stomatopoda: Gonodactyloidea) that possess a club-like distally inflated dactyl used to strike prey and other shrimps. However, among birds, this adaption appears to be unique. Adaptations of the wing to fight in birds is an example of contingency in which various bird species find different solutions to the same problem based in chance. The Jamaican ibises are very territorial and will get into fights especially related to nesting and feeding. The Jamaican ibis also needs to fight predators away from its nest as young ibises live in the nest and are cared for by their parents until they are old enough to walk. The conservation status of the Jamaican ibis is Vulnerable due to some habitat loss and, historically, invasive species and poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the invasive predators and invasive egg-eating animals have been eradicated from the Caribbean Islands and the Jamaican ibis is a protected species.