CLASSIFICATION OF GYPS BENGALENSIS : VULTURE
PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present )
Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium with brain present )
Sub-phylum :- VERTEBRATA ( vertebral column present)
Division :- GNATHOSTOMATA ( Jaws and paired appendages present )
Super class :- TETRAPODA ( Paired limbs, lungs, bony skeleton and cornified skin)
Class :- AVES ( Biped and feathered vertebrates ).
Sub-class :- NEORNITHES ( True birds. Metacarpels fused )
Super Order :- NEOGNATHAE ( Modern birds, no teeth, sternum keeled).
Order :- FALCONIFORMES ( Bill stout and hooked at tip).
Genus :- GYPS : VULTURE
Species :- bengalensis
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Gyps has cosmopolitan distribution.
HABIT AND HABITAT
It is found throughout India in all types of places except humid forests. It lives singly or in gatherings or rabbles. It feeds on a variety of animals. They are Scavengers.
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF GYPS BENGALENSIS : VULTURE
- Commonly called as Gidh (Vulture) in Hindi.
- It is dirty, blackish brown and repulsive-looking bird with massive body, very graceful majestic when soaring and circling high up in the sky.
- Flight is strong. White lower back visible when the bird is at rest or banks in flight. Body is divided into head, neck, back and breast and abdomen enclosed by wings.
- Head is naked and contains large paired eyes, nostril, beak or bill. Behind head is short neck.
- Bill stout, hooked at the tip with soft naked cere at its base, Mandible sharp edged. Beak adopted for tearing muscles from dead animals.
- Feet usually adapted for grasping with sharp claws.
- Vultures nest in large trees near the road or village sides. At rest wings are folded over the trunk.
Special features
Vultures are famous for their keen sight and they are of greatest usefulness mankind as scavengers. Whenever their keen eyes detect a carcass, a large number of these birds collect from all sides and dispose off the flesh of the dead animal within a short period. It is difficult to drive them away. They make peculiar voice while gathering,
Identification
Since this bird contains hooked beak, naked neck, white back and above features, hence it is Gyps bengalensis ( Vulture ).
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