The family Leptosomidae, belonging to the order Leptosomiformes, is a small and unique group of birds represented by a single extant species, the cuckoo-roller (Leptosomus discolor), native to Madagascar and the Comoro Islands. These birds are medium-sized, with strong, slightly curved bills and a robust body adapted for agile flight among forest canopies. Leptosomids are insectivorous and frugivorous, feeding on a mix of insects, small vertebrates, and fruit. Their plumage exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males typically displaying more vibrant colors than females. Ecologically, they occupy an important niche as both predators of invertebrates and seed dispersers, and their evolutionary distinctiveness makes them a key taxon for understanding avian diversification in the Malagasy region.