The Goliath heron, scientific name Ardea goliath and also known as the giant heron, is the world's largest living heron, standing 120 to 152 centimeters tall with a wingspan of 185 to 230 centimeters and weighing 4 to 5 kilograms. It belongs to the family Ardeidae and is found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller and declining numbers in Southwest and South Asia, where sightings have become increasingly rare. Both sexes show similar plumage: a chestnut-colored head, crest, face and neck sides, a white chin and throat streaked with black, and slate-grey upper wings and back with a chestnut shoulder patch. It depends strongly on water, inhabiting lakes, swamps, mangrove wetlands, cool-water reefs and river deltas, and prefers pristine wetlands undisturbed by people. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Scientific Name Conservation Status Comparison
CITES Appendix Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Lake, Biomes Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Ardea goliath
River, Biomes Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Ardea goliath
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. Goliath heron (Wikipedia)
Habitat section
Important habitats can include lakes, swamps, mangrove wetlands, reefs with cool water, sometimes river deltas.
Infobox: status
LC
View the Source3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Ardea goliath
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
Economic Importance for Humans
In India, goliath herons were formerly considered a delicacy and a royal gamebird with similar taste to the pheasant.
In Biome: Lake, Habitat Regions, biome: lakes and ponds
lakes and ponds
In Biome: River, Habitat Regions, biome: rivers and streams
rivers and streams
View the Source 4. Goliath heron (Wikidata)
Wikidata- Wikidata Q118608 (P225 taxon name)
Statements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): least concern.
- Child Taxon Of: Ardeidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
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