Leptoptilos robustus

Leptoptilos robustus (from lepto [Greek: thin, slender] + ptilo [Greek: soft feather] and robustus [Latin: strong]) is an extinct species of large-bodied stork belonging to the genus Leptoptilos (which also includes the marabou stork and the adjutants) that lived on the island of Flores in Indonesia during the Late Pleistocene. It stood at about 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) tall and weighed up to an estimated 16 kg (35 lb). Due to its large size, L. robustus likely occupied a terrestrial predatory or scavenging niche, likely heavily relying on the dwarfed elephant relative Stegodon florensis for a large part of its diet, and probably competing with Homo floresiensis, Komodo dragons and Trigonoceps vultures for food resources. The majority of the discoveries are concentrated in Liang Bua cave located slightly north of Ruteng in the East Nusa Tenggara province.