| Revision as of 09:43, 17 May 2011 editJordiferrer (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users3,072 edits Undid revision 429532492 by Jordiferrer (talk)← Previous edit | Revision as of 14:13, 27 May 2011 edit undo110.139.190.67 (talk) {{sfn|Lerner|Mindell|2005}}Tag: references removedNext edit → | ||
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| | subfamilia = '''Aegypiinae''' | | subfamilia = '''Aegypiinae''' | ||
| | subdivision_ranks = Genera | | subdivision_ranks = Genera | ||
| | subdivision = |
| subdivision = | ||
| See text. | See text. | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''Old World vultures''' belong to the family ], which also includes ]s, ]s, ]s, and ]s. |
'''Old World vultures''' belong to the family ], which also includes ]s, ]s, ]s, and ]s. | ||
| Old World vultures are not closely related to the superficially similar ]s and ]s, and do not share that group's good sense of smell. The similarities between the two groups of vultures are due to ] rather than a close relationship. They were widespread in both the Old World and ], during the ]. | Old World vultures are not closely related to the superficially similar ]s and ]s, and do not share that group's good sense of smell. The similarities between the two groups of vultures are due to ] rather than a close relationship. They were widespread in both the Old World and ], during the ]. | ||
| Old World vultures are probably a ] group within Accipitridae, with ], ] and ] separate from the others. |
Old World vultures are probably a ] group within Accipitridae, with ], ] and ] separate from the others.{{sfn|Lerner|Mindell|2005}} | ||
| Both Old World and New World ]s are scavenging ]s, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead ]s. Old World vultures find carcasses exclusively by sight. |
Both Old World and New World ]s are scavenging ]s, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead ]s. Old World vultures find carcasses exclusively by sight. A particular characteristic of many vultures is a bald ], devoid of ]s. If vultures had head feathers, they would become spattered with ] and other fluids when the vultures ate flesh from carcasses, and thus would be difficult to keep clean. | ||
| == Species == | == Species == | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
| '''Genus Gyps''' | '''Genus Gyps''' | ||
| * ], ''Gyps fulvus'' | * ], ''Gyps fulvus'' | ||
| * ], |
* ], ''Gyps bengalensis'' | ||
| * ], ''Gyps rueppelli'' | * ], ''Gyps rueppelli'' | ||
| * ], ''Gyps indicus'' | * ], ''Gyps indicus'' | ||
| * ], ''Gyps tenuirostris'' | * ], ''Gyps tenuirostris'' | ||
| * ], ''Gyps himalayensis'' | * ], ''Gyps himalayensis'' | ||
| * ], |
* ], ''Gyps africanus'' | ||
| * ], ''Gyps coprotheres'' | * ], ''Gyps coprotheres'' | ||
| '''Genus Necrosyrtes''' | '''Genus Necrosyrtes''' | ||
| Line 43: | Line 43: | ||
| '''Genus Neophron''' | '''Genus Neophron''' | ||
| * ], ''Neophron percnopterus'' | * ], ''Neophron percnopterus'' | ||
| '''Genus Sarcogyps''' |
'''Genus Sarcogyps''' | ||
| * ], ''Sarcogyps calvus'' | * ], ''Sarcogyps calvus'' | ||
| '''Genus Torgos''' | '''Genus Torgos''' | ||
| Line 52: | Line 52: | ||
| == Threat due to diclofenac poisoning == | == Threat due to diclofenac poisoning == | ||
| ] poisoning has caused the vulture population in ] and ] to decline by up to 95% in the past decade, and two or three of the species of vulture in South Asia are nearing extinction.<ref name = "painkillers 2006"/> |
] poisoning has caused the vulture population in ] and ] to decline by up to 95% in the past decade, and two or three of the species of vulture in South Asia are nearing extinction.<ref name = "painkillers 2006"/> This has been caused by the practice of medicating working farm animals with diclofenac, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (]) with anti-inflammatory and pain killing actions. Diclofenac administration keeps animals that are ill or in pain working on the land for longer, but, if the ill animals die, their carcasses contain diclofenac. Farmers leave the dead animals out in the open, relying on vultures to tidy up. Diclofenac present in carcass flesh is eaten by vultures, which are sensitive to diclofenac, and they suffer kidney failure, ], and death as a result of diclofenac ]ing. | ||
| The decline in vultures has led to hygiene problems in India as carcasses of dead animals now tend to rot, or be eaten by ]s or ]s, rather than be tidied up by vultures. ] among these other scavengers is a major health threat. India has one of the world's highest incidences of rabies.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Rabies risk among travelers |journal = ] |date = 2008-26-2 | pmid = 18299544 | doi = 10.1503/cmaj.071443 | author = Di Quinzio, M. | volume = 178 | pages = 567 |last2=McCarthy |first2=A |issue=5 |pmc=2244672}}</ref> |
The decline in vultures has led to hygiene problems in India as carcasses of dead animals now tend to rot, or be eaten by ]s or ]s, rather than be tidied up by vultures. ] among these other scavengers is a major health threat. India has one of the world's highest incidences of rabies.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Rabies risk among travelers |journal = ] |date = 2008-26-2 | pmid = 18299544 | doi = 10.1503/cmaj.071443 | author = Di Quinzio, M. | volume = 178 | pages = 567 |last2=McCarthy |first2=A |issue=5 |pmc=2244672}}</ref> | ||
| The decline in vultures causes particular problems for certain communities, such as the ], who practice ]s, where the human dead are put on the top of a ] and are eaten by vultures, leaving only dry bones. | The decline in vultures causes particular problems for certain communities, such as the ], who practice ]s, where the human dead are put on the top of a ] and are eaten by vultures, leaving only dry bones. | ||
| Line 62: | Line 62: | ||
| == In culture == | == In culture == | ||
| === Ancient Egypt === | === Ancient Egypt === | ||
| In Southern Africa, the name for a ]it is synonymous with the term applied to ]rs, because these vultures are always seen in pairs, mother and child remaining closely bonded together. Pairing, bonding, protecting, and loving are essential attributes associated along with the vulture's size and its ability to soar high in the sky. |
In Southern Africa, the name for a ]it is synonymous with the term applied to ]rs, because these vultures are always seen in pairs, mother and child remaining closely bonded together. Pairing, bonding, protecting, and loving are essential attributes associated along with the vulture's size and its ability to soar high in the sky. | ||
| The ]ians considered the vulture to be an excellent mother, and the wide wingspan was seen as all-encompassing and providing a protective cover to her infants. The white ] was the animal picked to represent ], the mother goddess and protective patron of southern, Upper Egypt. The vulture |
The ]ians considered the vulture to be an excellent mother, and the wide wingspan was seen as all-encompassing and providing a protective cover to her infants. The white ] was the animal picked to represent ], the mother goddess and protective patron of southern, Upper Egypt. The vulture ] <hiero>A</hiero> was the Egyptian sign used for the sound (''3'') including words such as ''mother'', ''prosperous'', ''grandmother'', and ''ruler''. | ||
| === Hindu mythology === | === Hindu mythology === | ||
| ]]] | ]]] | ||
| In the ] epic ], there appear two demi-gods who had the form of vultures, ] (]: जटायू, ''jatāyū'') and his brother ], with whom are associated stories of courage and self-sacrifice. |
In the ] epic ], there appear two demi-gods who had the form of vultures, ] (]: जटायू, ''jatāyū'') and his brother ], with whom are associated stories of courage and self-sacrifice. | ||
| When young, the two used to compete as to who could fly higher. On one such instance Jatayu flew so high that he was about to get seared by sun's flames. Sampaati saved his brother by spreading his own wings and thus shielding Jatayu from the hot flames. In the process, Sampaati himself got injured and lost his wings. As a result Sampaati lived wingless for the rest of his life. |
When young, the two used to compete as to who could fly higher. On one such instance Jatayu flew so high that he was about to get seared by sun's flames. Sampaati saved his brother by spreading his own wings and thus shielding Jatayu from the hot flames. In the process, Sampaati himself got injured and lost his wings. As a result Sampaati lived wingless for the rest of his life. | ||
| When Jatayu was old, he witnessed the beautiful ], wife of the god ], |
When Jatayu was old, he witnessed the beautiful ], wife of the god ], being kidnapped by ]. Jatayu tried to save her but was defeated and mortally wounded. When he lay dying he was still able to tell ] and his brother ] in which direction Sita was being taken, facilitating her eventual rescue. | ||
| ===Tibet=== | ===Tibet=== | ||
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| == Conservation efforts == | == Conservation efforts == | ||
| A project named "Vulture Restaurant" is underway in ] in an effort to conserve the dwindling number of vultures. The "restaurant" is an open grassy area where naturally dying, sick, and old ]s |
A project named "Vulture Restaurant" is underway in ] in an effort to conserve the dwindling number of vultures. The "restaurant" is an open grassy area where naturally dying, sick, and old ]s are fed to the vultures.<ref></ref><ref></ref> | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
| * {{cite doi | 10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.010 }} | |||
| * Ferguson-Lees, Christie, Franklin, Mead and Burton ''Raptors of the World'' ISBN 0-7136-8026-1 | * Ferguson-Lees, Christie, Franklin, Mead and Burton ''Raptors of the World'' ISBN 0-7136-8026-1 | ||
| * Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ''Birds of India'' ISBN 0-691-04910-6 | * Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ''Birds of India'' ISBN 0-691-04910-6 | ||
| Line 95: | Line 96: | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * on the Internet Bird Collection | * on the Internet Bird Collection | ||
| * Indian bird resources | * Indian bird resources | ||
| * http://www.vulture.org.yu/ | * http://www.vulture.org.yu/ | ||
| * | * | ||
| * | * | ||
| {{Old World vultures}} | {{Old World vultures}} | ||
Revision as of 14:13, 27 May 2011
| Old World vultures | |
|---|---|
| |
| Lappet-faced Vultures (left) and a White-backed Vulture | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Subfamily: | Aegypiinae |
| Genera | |
|
See text. | |
Old World vultures belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, buzzards, kites, and hawks.
Old World vultures are not closely related to the superficially similar New World vultures and condors, and do not share that group's good sense of smell. The similarities between the two groups of vultures are due to convergent evolution rather than a close relationship. They were widespread in both the Old World and North America, during the Neogene. Old World vultures are probably a polyphyletic group within Accipitridae, with Palm-nut Vulture, Egyptian Vulture and Lammergeier separate from the others.
Both Old World and New World vultures are scavenging birds, feeding mostly from carcasses of dead animals. Old World vultures find carcasses exclusively by sight. A particular characteristic of many vultures is a bald head, devoid of feathers. If vultures had head feathers, they would become spattered with blood and other fluids when the vultures ate flesh from carcasses, and thus would be difficult to keep clean.
Species
Genus Aegypius
- Eurasian Black Vulture, Monk Vulture, or Cinereous vultureAegypius monachus
Genus Gypaetus
- Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture, Gypaetus barbatus
Genus Gypohierax
- Palm-nut Vulture, Gypohierax angolensis
Genus Gyps
- Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus
- Indian White-rumped Vulture, Gyps bengalensis
- Rüppell's Vulture, Gyps rueppelli
- Long-billed Vulture, Gyps indicus
- Slender-billed Vulture, Gyps tenuirostris
- Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Gyps himalayensis
- White-backed Vulture, Gyps africanus
- Cape Griffon, Gyps coprotheres
Genus Necrosyrtes
- Hooded Vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus
Genus Neophron
- Egyptian Vulture, Neophron percnopterus
Genus Sarcogyps
- Red-headed Vulture, Sarcogyps calvus
Genus Torgos
- Lappet-faced Vulture, Torgos tracheliotus
Genus Trigonoceps
- White-headed Vulture, Trigonoceps occipitalis
Threat due to diclofenac poisoning
Diclofenac poisoning has caused the vulture population in India and Pakistan to decline by up to 95% in the past decade, and two or three of the species of vulture in South Asia are nearing extinction. This has been caused by the practice of medicating working farm animals with diclofenac, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with anti-inflammatory and pain killing actions. Diclofenac administration keeps animals that are ill or in pain working on the land for longer, but, if the ill animals die, their carcasses contain diclofenac. Farmers leave the dead animals out in the open, relying on vultures to tidy up. Diclofenac present in carcass flesh is eaten by vultures, which are sensitive to diclofenac, and they suffer kidney failure, visceral gout, and death as a result of diclofenac poisoning.
The decline in vultures has led to hygiene problems in India as carcasses of dead animals now tend to rot, or be eaten by rats or wild dogs, rather than be tidied up by vultures. Rabies among these other scavengers is a major health threat. India has one of the world's highest incidences of rabies.
The decline in vultures causes particular problems for certain communities, such as the Parsi, who practice sky burials, where the human dead are put on the top of a Tower of Silence and are eaten by vultures, leaving only dry bones.
Meloxicam (another NSAID) has been found to be harmless to vultures and should prove an acceptable alternative to diclofenac. The Government of India banned diclofenac, but over a year later, in 2007, it continued to be sold and is still a problem in other parts of the world.
In culture
Ancient Egypt
In Southern Africa, the name for a Nubian vultureit is synonymous with the term applied to lovers, because these vultures are always seen in pairs, mother and child remaining closely bonded together. Pairing, bonding, protecting, and loving are essential attributes associated along with the vulture's size and its ability to soar high in the sky.
The Egyptians considered the vulture to be an excellent mother, and the wide wingspan was seen as all-encompassing and providing a protective cover to her infants. The white Egyptian vulture was the animal picked to represent Nekhbet, the mother goddess and protective patron of southern, Upper Egypt. The vulture hieroglyph
|
was the Egyptian sign used for the sound (3) including words such as mother, prosperous, grandmother, and ruler.
Hindu mythology
In the Hindu epic Ramayana, there appear two demi-gods who had the form of vultures, Jatayu (Sanskrit: जटायू, jatāyū) and his brother Sampaati, with whom are associated stories of courage and self-sacrifice.
When young, the two used to compete as to who could fly higher. On one such instance Jatayu flew so high that he was about to get seared by sun's flames. Sampaati saved his brother by spreading his own wings and thus shielding Jatayu from the hot flames. In the process, Sampaati himself got injured and lost his wings. As a result Sampaati lived wingless for the rest of his life.
When Jatayu was old, he witnessed the beautiful Sita, wife of the god Rama, being kidnapped by Ravana. Jatayu tried to save her but was defeated and mortally wounded. When he lay dying he was still able to tell Rama and his brother Lakshmana in which direction Sita was being taken, facilitating her eventual rescue.
Tibet
In the Tibetan practice of sky burial, vultures and other birds eat human corpses.
Contemporary concepts
Although the vulture plays an important natural role, in the Western world, the image of the vulture is quite negative, with 'vulture' used as a metaphor for those who prey on the weak or dying, with associated negative connotations of cowardice and selfishness.
Conservation efforts
A project named "Vulture Restaurant" is underway in Nepal in an effort to conserve the dwindling number of vultures. The "restaurant" is an open grassy area where naturally dying, sick, and old cows are fed to the vultures.
References
- Lerner & Mindell 2005. sfn error: no target: CITEREFLernerMindell2005 (help)
- http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Aegypius.html#Aegypius
- ^ "Painkillers turned bird killers". New Scientist (2577): p7. 2006-11-14.
{{cite journal}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - Di Quinzio, M.; McCarthy, A (2008-26-2). "Rabies risk among travelers". CMAJ. 178 (5): 567. doi:10.1503/cmaj.071443. PMC 2244672. PMID 18299544.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - BBC News-Nepal's 'restaurant' for vultures
- A vulture restaurant in South Africa
- Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.010 , please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with
|doi= 10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.010instead. - Ferguson-Lees, Christie, Franklin, Mead and Burton Raptors of the World ISBN 0-7136-8026-1
- Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, Birds of India ISBN 0-691-04910-6
- Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton, SASOL Birds of Southern Africa (Struik 2002) ISBN 1-86872-721-1
- NSAID effects on vultures (BBC website)
- "India's Vultures Fall Prey to a Drug in the Cattle They Feed On", New York Times, Amelia Gentleman, March 28, 2006.
- "Rare breed of vulture spotted in Goa after eight years" The Times of India, Preetu Nair, May 9, 2009, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Rare-breed-of-vulture-spotted-in-Goa-after-eight-years/articleshow/4501225.cms
External links
- Vulture videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- www.wildsaurashtra.com, videos, photographs and resources on Indian birds Indian bird resources
- http://www.vulture.org.yu/
- A griffon vulture nest on the Web
- A vulture restaurant in South Africa
| Old World vultures (subfamily: Aegypiinae) | |
|---|---|
| Genus | Species |
| Aegypius | |
| Gypaetus | |
| Gypohierax | |
| Gyps | |
| Necrosyrtes | |
| Neophron | |
| Sarcogyps | |
| Torgos | |
| Trigonoceps | |