Champsardea ajdarxoides

The so-called "stork-gator" champsothere, Champsardea ajdarxoides, of the rainforests of Palao. This 3 to 4 meter tall predator searches for small animals in the dense underbrush.

Prey is captured with the long bill, and is then subdued by being repeatedly smashed and battered on a nearby hard surface. This method even allows the stork-gator to feed on the otherwise extraordinarily dangerous rosemary badger, Deinomellia gulomellia with a degree of impunity.