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 was once a group of birds that ate dead animals. This group included the New World vultures and a type of giant extinct bird called Teratornithidae. Unlike many other vultures, Cathartiformes did not have strong claws (talons) or foot muscles to grab prey.
For a long time, scientists thought Cathartiformes were closely related to storks, which belong to the order Ciconiiformes. This idea came from studying their DNA and body shapes. However, new studies in 2021 looked at their genes more closely. These studies showed that Cathartiformes are actually more closely related to birds of prey, like eagles and hawks. These birds are in the order Accipitriformes. Because of this new information, New World vultures are now usually placed within the Accipitriformes as the family Cathartidae.
About Cathartiformes
How They Are Built
Cathartiformes have special feathers that help them stay healthy. These feathers stop bacteria and fungi from building up, even when the birds eat dead animals. Their feathers are flat and have tiny holes. This design lets air flow through, which keeps the feathers dry and free of germs.
Unlike other birds, their feathers do not have tiny hooks that lock together. This makes the feathers more flexible. This flexibility might help them control their body temperature when they fly very high or through windy air. Also, their feathers have a special pulp and dark color (melanin). This makes them strong and resistant to damage.
New World vultures also have a very strong stomach acid. This acid helps them break down and destroy harmful germs found in decaying food.
What They Eat
Vultures mainly eat carrion, which means dead animals. Most New World vultures are obligate scavengers. This means they only eat animals that are already dead. Their diet includes dead reptiles, mammals, birds, and fish. They have even been known to eat human remains.
By eating dead animals, vultures play a very important role in the ecosystem. They help clean up the environment by removing carcasses.
Young vultures depend on their parents for food. Adult Cathartiformes do not have feet that can carry food. So, they feed their chicks by bringing up (regurgitating) meat and bone pieces from their own stomachs.
Amazing Senses
Vultures have incredibly good eyesight. They can spot a dead animal about 3 feet long from as far as 4 miles away. They can do this even when flying very high, up to 9,800 feet in the air.
Their hearing is also very sharp. They can hear sounds in a range of about 5,000 Hertz. They can even hear very quiet sounds, down to 20 decibels.
Species
The living species that used to be in the Cathartiformes group fall into two main types. The first type includes the black vulture, the turkey vulture, and the two kinds of yellow-headed vulture. The second type includes the California condor, the Andean condor, and the king vulture.
