Cathartes+aura

= Cathartes aura- Turkey Vulture = = = Kingdom Amimalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Ciconiiformes Family Ciconiidae Genus Cathartes
 * Accepted scientific name: **// Cathartes aura // (Linnaeus, 1758) (accepted name)
 * Infraspecific taxon: ** Cathartes aura aura,Cathartes aura septentrionalis, Cathartes aura teter
 * Common names: ** Turkey Vulture
 * Classification: **
 * Distribution: ** Caribbean; North America

There are three sub-species of the turkey vulture. They are Cathartes aura septentrionalis, Cathartes aura aura, Cathartes aura teter The turkey vulture is a large carnivore bird that is very good at soaring at high altitudes. Like other carnivores, vultures eat meat; however vultures do not kill their prey. Turkey vultures eat already dead animals that have been taken down by a bigger predator. The digestive system of a vulture is different and more acidic that that of a human or dog.

For years, many believed that all vultures were raptors and members of the order Falconiformes. In 1994, it was discovered that the vultures inhabiting the American continents actually evolved from a different ancestor than the European, African and Asian vultures. The apparent similarities between New and Old World vultures are not a result of common ancestry, but rather a classic example of convergent evolution.

There is still debate over the evolutionary history of New World vultures, and some scientists believe the birds are most closely related to storks and ibises others believe the birds do indeed belong with other raptors in Falconiformes, and still others believe the North and South American vultures are sufficiently distinct to be placed in their own, unique category.

A unique feature of the turkey vulture is its bare head and large wing-span. It is known to soar high above with very little effort, thanks to its large stature. The vulture is eukariotic and produces sexually, like most mammals.

The Turkey Vulture Habitat

Vultures are known to scavenge off of other animals kills. This is a form of commensalisms, in which one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor hindered by the process.

There are very little known predators to the Turkey vulture. They live in a wide verity of habitats from the deserts in the south to up in North America. Because of Global warming, the turkey vulture has moved further and further north.

Some interesting facts on the turkey vulture are that they have a different digestive system than other mammals. Their acid in their stomach is more acidic because they have to digest rotten meat. Another fact is that the turkey vulture flies differently than other birds. Instead of flapping its wings, it soars high above normal flying heights, and it sort of staggers through the air, almost like it was intoxicated. The turkey vulture also is surprisingly gentle and non-aggressive. They live in communities among their species, only breaking away to forage.

For more information, please see these links below

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Works Cited

"Catalogue of Life - 2011 Annual Checklist :: Species Details." //Catalogue of Life - 2011 Annual Checklist :: Search All Names//. Web. 09 June 2011. .

"Get Your Vulture On! | Search and Serendipity." //David J. Ringer//. Web. 09 June 2011. .

"Turkey Vulture Facts." //The Turkey Vulture Society//. Web. 09 June 2011. .

"Turkey Vulture." Web. 09 June 2011. .