Aveslimax volans
Skimmerclop
Field Report Summary
First observed in the salt marshes of Baja California, the Skimmerclop exhibits a unique hunting behavior, skimming the water's surface with its modified 'bill-foot' to catch small invertebrates. Its discovery has baffled ornithologists and malacologists alike, leading to heated debates regarding its evolutionary origins.
Physical Description
The Skimmerclop possesses the general body plan of a Black Skimmer, but its beak has been replaced by a fleshy, elongated foot resembling that of a Banana Slug. It retains the black and white plumage of the Skimmer, but its wings are iridescent and slimy to the touch, and it secretes a thin mucus to maintain hydration. It has modified bird feet as well for perching.
Habitat
Salt marshes and coastal wetlands.
Dietary Behavior
The Skimmerclop skims the water's surface with its slug-foot, using chemoreceptors to detect and capture small invertebrates, algae, and detritus. It also occasionally picks at exposed mudflats.
Evolutionary Origin
Genetic analysis suggests a rare instance of horizontal gene transfer between a Black Skimmer and a Banana Slug, possibly facilitated by a retroviral vector. This resulted in the expression of slug foot development genes in the Skimmer's beak primordium, leading to the unique 'bill-foot' structure.