Cathartiformes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids CathartiformesTemporal range: Eocene to present
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| California condor | |
Scientific classification  (obsolete) |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Accipitrimorphae |
| Order: | Cathartiformes Coues, 1884 |
| Subtaxa | |
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Cathartiformes is a former order of scavenging birds which included the New World vultures and the now-extinct Teratornithidae. Unlike many Old World vultures, Canthartiformes lack talons and musculature in their feet suitable for seizing prey. In the past, they were considered to be a sister group to the storks of the order Ciconiiformes based on DNA–DNA hybridization and morphology. However, a 2021 analysis of mitochondrial genes suggested a stronger phylogenetic relationship between Cathartiformes and Accipitriformes, and they are now normally included within the Accipitriformes as the family Cathartidae.
Contents
Description
Anatomy
Cathartiformes possess unique adaptations in their plumulaceous feathers that prevent the accumulation of bacteria and fungal spores, allowing them to feed on carrion without falling sick. These feather adaptations include a lack of aftershaft, a flattened shape, and a porous structure that allows air to flow through, preventing the retention of moisture and bacteria. Their feathers lack the interlocking hooks found in other birds' feathers, making them more flexible and allowing for a greater degree of movement. This flexibility may aid in their ability to maintain body temperature while soaring at high altitudes and navigating turbulent air currents. Additionally, the presence of feather pulp and melanin pigment in these feathers may contribute to their durability and resistance to wear and tear.
Additionally, New World vultures have a highly acidic digestive system that allows them to break down and destroy harmful pathogens in their food, such as those from decomposing carcasses.
Diet
Vultures primarily feed on carrion. Most New World vultures are obligate scavengers, meaning they feed exclusively on animals that are already deceased. Their diet primarily consists of reptiles, mammals, birds, and fish, although they have been known to consume human remains as well. Their nature as detrivores plays an important role in the ecosystem by facilitating the removal of carcasses.
Young vultures of the order Cathartiformes rely on their parents for food. Adult Cathartiformes do not have feet adapted for carrying food, so they feed their chicks by regurgitating meat and bone fragments.
Eyesight and hearing
Vultures possess highly developed eyesight, capable of detecting a carcass measuring approximately 3 feet (0.9 m) in length from a distance of 4 miles (6.4 km), even at altitudes of up to 9,800 feet (1.86 mi). Their hearing is similarly acute, with a range of around 5,000 Hz and a threshold of 20 dB.
Species
The extant species of the Cathartiformes order fall into two primary clades. The first consists of the black vulture, the turkey vulture, and the two yellow-headed vulture species, while the second consists of the California condor, the Andean condor, and the king vulture.
