Skull Island: A Documentation of the Most Terrifying Place on Earth

by SomethingWittyIGuess

In the summer of 1889, a British Naval ship sails from India to Australia, however a tropical storm causes it to wash up on a lost island in the Indian Ocean. The crew dubs the landmass Skull Island and they take note of the odd and even deadly fauna and flora that call this place home. Since then, several expeditions were made to explore this land and what lived there.

60. The Whiskerbill

The Whiskerbill (Vibrasseornis sylvanus)

When one brings up extant animals most often associated with the former supercontinent of Gondwana, ratites are among the most recognizable. These often titanic birds are the last of the paleognaths, which are some of the most primitive of avians. Both extinct and extant ratites displayed a wide array of unique traits, one of which from Skull Island is the small and unassuming Whiskerbill (Vibrasseornis sylvanus).

Though this bird is nowhere near the size of giants like the ostrich or emu, the 84 cm tall, brownish-beige plumed Whiskerbill is interesting because of one particular trait it gets its name from; the whisker-like feathers that surround the base of its beak. Much like the kiwi and the extinct elephant bird of Madagascar (its closest relatives), this flightless animal has poor eyesight and is nocturnal, opting to use its whisker-like feathers to sense its darkened jungle environment. The diet of the Whiskerbill (unlike its less picky kiwi cousins) consists primarily on fruit and insects (not unlike a cassowary), which it uses its keen sense of smell to locate.

Being a fairly small animal, the Whiskerbill is a common prey item for many rainforest predators. However, one thing that gives this flightless bird an advantage is its ability to hide in tight crevices, mostly safe from any prying jaws. Unfortunately, the total population of this bird is currently on the decline due to its demand in the exotic pet trade, likely due to its often cute demeanor and adaptability in zoological parks (they are common sights in nocturnal-themed exhibits). Luckily, it is considered illegal to recreationally own a Whiskerbill in many countries unless you are the owner of an accredited zoo or wildlife park.

Author's Note: The Whiskerbill is based on a small flightless bird from The World of Kong: A Natural History of Skull Island called Hylaeornis.