Egyptian plover to feed on decaying meat lodged between the crocodiles' teeth. The identification of the trochilus with any particular plover is doubtful, as is the cleaning symbiosis itself; no known photographic evidence exists, and the written accounts are considered suspect by the biologist Thomas Howell. Egyptian plover The Egyptian plover ("Pluvianus aegyptius"), also known as the crocodile bird, is a wader, the only member of the genus "Pluvianus". Formerly placed in the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae, it is now regarded as the sole member of its own monotypic family Pluvianidae. The species is one of several plovers doubtfully associated with
Madagascan plover environmental change, and thus very sensitive to habitat threats. Three nesting localities are located in protected national parks: lake Tsimanampetsota, Kirindy Mitea, and Baly Bay. Control of predators has been suggested as a conservation measure, however this may be difficult as the predators themselves may be endemic to Madagascar, endangered, or protected species. Madagascan plover The Madagascan plover ("Charadrius thoracicus"), also known as the black-banded plover, is a small (37 g) monogamous shorebird in the family Charadriidae. It is native to western Madagascar that inhabits the shores of lagoons, coastal grasslands, and breeds in salt marshes. These plovers mainly nest