Geronticus

The small bird genus Geronticus belongs to the ibis subfamily Threskiornithinae. Its name is derived from the Greek gérontos (γέρωντος, "old man") in reference to the bald head of these dark-plumaged birds; in English, they are called bald ibises.

Geronticus
Temporal range: Middle Miocene to recent
Nesting southern bald ibis (G. calvus) with young.
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Threskiornithidae
Subfamily: Threskiornithinae
Genus: Geronticus
Wagler, 1832
Type species
Tantalus calvus
Boddaert, 1783
Species

Geronticus calvus
Geronticus eremita
For fossil species, see text

The genus was erected by the German naturalist Johann Georg Wagler in 1832. The type species was subsequently designated as the southern bald ibis (Geronticus calvus).

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