configure: error: No 16 bit type found on this platform!

During configure --prefix=/opt

checking for short... no checking size of short... 0 checking for int... no checking size of int... 0 checking for long... no checking size of long... 0 configure: error: No 16 bit type found on this platform!

An amazing problem. I have compiled tons of open source stuff on this system. This is the first time I have ever seen a configure failure like this. I'm completely stumped.

System and compiler info

SunOS arrow 5.8 Generic_117350-05 sun4u sparc SUNW,UltraSPARC-IIi-Engine

Using built-in specs. Target: sparc-sun-solaris2.8 Configured with: ../configure --prefix=/opt Thread model: posix gcc version 4.0.2