ANIMAL: Wrinkled Hornbill Aceros corrugatus Type of Animal: Hornbill Habitat: Tropical forest Location(s): Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo Appearance: Black plumage, blue eye-ring, white or rufous-tipped tail. Male has yellow throat while female has blue throat. Female has entirely yellow bill while male has yellow bill w/ red casque. Male larger than female. Food/Diet: Fruit, snails, frogs, lizards, insects, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, small birds, poultry chicks, turtle/tortoise hatchlings, rodents, small snakes, berries, eggs, crocodilian hatchlings, pigeon chicks Status in Wild: Endangered Conservation: Breeding from zoos & private breeders Lifestyle: Monogamous pairs, though sometimes flocks of 12-15 seen outside breeding/nesting season Additional Info: Called: Male-Cock Female-Hen Young-Chick Group-Flock Weight: Male-3.5 lbs Female-2.5 lbs Young-1 lb Gestation: 1.5-2 months Height: Male-2.4 ft Female-2 ft Body Length: Male-2.3 ft Female-2 ft Life Span: 20-30 years in wild, up to 40 years in captivity Tail Length: 1.92 in Main predators of adults are large pythons, raptors, tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, & dholes. Civets, primates, snakes, sun bears, & smaller felids prey on chicks. Endangered due to logging, habitat loss, hunting for feathers/meat, & bird trade. Due to frugivorous habits, they’re very important seed dispersers. Calls/wing beats can be heard for more than half a mile away. While casque looks heavy, it’s actually light & hollow. Fights highly ritualized almost always involving casque jousting. They rarely drink because they get water from food they eat. Casque takes 4-5 years to develop. Fun Fact(s): Usually very docile birds, males sometimes become more aggressive during breeding/nesting season, even attacking humans who venture too close. Feathers used for traditional costumes in some cultures. To many tribes, they represent war gods. Like all arboreal hornbills, female nests in tree cavity w/ wall made of mud, fruit pulp, & poop. Hole big enough for female to fit into & once she’s in she walls herself up for 3 months, leaving narrow opening for male to feed her/brood. Male defends territory. While walled up, female undergoes complete molt. When chicks & mom too big, mom breaks out w/ both parents feeding chicks.
