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Revision as of 06:56, 5 August 2003 editJimfbleak (talk | contribs)Administrators174,680 edits taxonomy← Previous edit Revision as of 13:43, 13 August 2003 edit undoTannin (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users12,305 edits tweak species listing, rationalise taxonomyNext edit →
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'''Old World vultures''' belong to the order ''Accipitriformes'', which also includes ]s, ]s, ]s and ]s. '''Old World vultures''' belong to the family ''Accipitridae'', which also includes ]s, ]s, ]s and ]s.


They are not at all 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 are due to ] rather than a close relationship. They are not at all 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 are due to ] rather than a close relationship.
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Species are: Species are:


* '''ORDER ]'''
* Order: Accipitriformes
** Family: Accipitridae ** '''Family ]'''
*** Subfamily: Aegypiini *** '''Subfamily: Aegypiini'''
**** ] or '''Bearded Vulture''', ''Gypaetus barbatus'' **** ] or Bearded Vulture, ''Gypaetus barbatus''
**** ] ''Gyps fulvus'' **** ] ''Gyps fulvus''
**** ], ''Gyps bengalensis'' **** ], ''Gyps bengalensis''
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**** Cape Griffon, ''Gyps coprotheres'' **** Cape Griffon, ''Gyps coprotheres''
**** ], ''Trogos tracheliotus'' **** ], ''Trogos tracheliotus''
**** ] or '''Monk Vulture''', ''Aegypius monachus'' **** ] or Monk Vulture, ''Aegypius monachus''
**** ], ''Neophron percnopterus'' **** ], ''Neophron percnopterus''
**** ], ''Gypohierax angolensis'' **** ], ''Gypohierax angolensis''
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**** White-headed Vulture, ''Trigonoceps occipitalis'' **** White-headed Vulture, ''Trigonoceps occipitalis''
**** Red-headed Vulture, ''Sarcogyps calvus'' **** Red-headed Vulture, ''Sarcogyps calvus''
*** (other subfamilies not listed here)
** Family ]: Osprey
** Family ]: Secretary Bird

Revision as of 13:43, 13 August 2003

Old World vultures
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Falconiformes
Family†:Accipitridae
Genera

Gypaetus 

Gyps   

Trogos   

Aegypius   

Neophron   

Gypohierax   

Necrosyrtes
† see also: Accipitridae

Old World vultures belong to the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks.

They are not at all 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 are due to convergent evolution rather than a close relationship.

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. This is because a feathered head would become spattered with blood and other fluids, and thus be difficult to keep clean.

Species are: