Latin Etymology: Scatophagus ("feces-eater") argus ("eyed" - after many eyed Mythical figure)
Adult Spotted Scat caught by free-flying Milky Stork (Scatophahus argus) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019
Featured Subspecies: ?Weight: ? / Length: 33cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern
Some species get latin names comparing them to mythic figures. Some species get latin names that inaccurately describe them as eating poop. The Spotted Scat is in a very narrow category of species for which both of these are true, which is perhaps somewhat unfair as science has never observed it practising scatophagy, although it does indeed have a very opportunistic omnivorous diet, eating pretty much anything available. In this particular case though, it was being eaten, having been caught by one of the free flying Milky Storks from Singapore Zoo, which was struggling on how to actually eat a fish this big.
Related Species:
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scatophagidae
Genus: Scatophagus
SUBSPECIES: ?
- Sighting Locations -
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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