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Notarium
Notarium or os dorsale is a bone consisting of the fused vertebra of the shoulder in birds and some pterosaurs. The structure helps brace the chest against the forces generated by the wings. In birds, the vertebrae are only in contact with adjacent vertebrae and ribs, while in some pterosaurs the notarium articulates with the scapula. This joint is unique among tetrapods, as in no other taxa is there a direct connection between the pectoral girdle and vertebral column (though in species with clavicles, the clavicle articulates with the sternum, which in turn is connected to the vertebrae via the ribs, allowing an indirect connection). Among birds, notarium is found among Galliformes, Columbidae, Tinamidae, Podicipedidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Threskiornithidae, Phoenicopteridae, Falconidae, Gruidae, Aramidae, Psophiidae, Rhinochetidae, Eurypygidae, Mesitornithidae The mesites (Mesitornithidae) are a family (biology), family of birds that are part of a clade (Columbimorphae ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pterosaur Anatomy
Pterosaurs are an extinct clade of flying reptiles in the Order (biology), order Pterosauria. They existed during most of the Mesozoic: from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous (228 million to 66 million years ago). Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved flying and gliding animals, powered flight. Their wings were formed by a membrane of skin, muscle, and other tissue (biology), tissues stretching from the ankles to a dramatically lengthened fourth finger. There were two major types of pterosaurs. Basal pterosaurs (also called 'non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs' or 'rhamphorhynchoids') were smaller animals with fully toothed jaws and, typically, long tails. Their wide wing membranes probably included and connected the hind legs. On the ground, they would have had an awkward sprawling posture, but the anatomy of their joints and strong claws would have made them effective climbers, and some may have even lived in trees. Basal pterosaurs were ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pterosaur
Pterosaurs are an extinct clade of flying reptiles in the order Pterosauria. They existed during most of the Mesozoic: from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous (228 million to 66 million years ago). Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight. Their wings were formed by a membrane of skin, muscle, and other tissues stretching from the ankles to a dramatically lengthened fourth finger. There were two major types of pterosaurs. Basal pterosaurs (also called 'non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs' or ' rhamphorhynchoids') were smaller animals with fully toothed jaws and, typically, long tails. Their wide wing membranes probably included and connected the hind legs. On the ground, they would have had an awkward sprawling posture, but the anatomy of their joints and strong claws would have made them effective climbers, and some may have even lived in trees. Basal pterosaurs were insectivores or predators of small vertebrates. Later pte ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pterosaurs
Pterosaurs are an extinct clade of flying reptiles in the Order (biology), order Pterosauria. They existed during most of the Mesozoic: from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous (228 million to 66 million years ago). Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved flying and gliding animals, powered flight. Their wings were formed by a membrane of skin, muscle, and other tissue (biology), tissues stretching from the ankles to a dramatically lengthened fourth finger. There were two major types of pterosaurs. Basal pterosaurs (also called 'non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs' or 'rhamphorhynchoids') were smaller animals with fully toothed jaws and, typically, long tails. Their wide wing membranes probably included and connected the hind legs. On the ground, they would have had an awkward sprawling posture, but the anatomy of their joints and strong claws would have made them effective climbers, and some may have even lived in trees. Basal pterosaurs were ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Falconidae
The falcons and caracaras are around 65 species of Diurnality, diurnal birds of prey that make up the family Falconidae (representing all extant species in the order (biology), order Falconiformes). The family likely originated in South America during the Paleocene and is divided into three subfamilies: Herpetotherinae, which includes the laughing falcon and forest falcons; Polyborinae, which includes the spot-winged falconet and the Caracara (subfamily), caracaras; and Falconinae, the falcons and kestrels (''Falco'') and falconets (''Microhierax''). Description Falcons and caracaras are small to medium-sized birds of prey, ranging in size from the black-thighed falconet, which can weigh as little as , to the gyrfalcon, which can weigh as much as . They have strongly hooked bills, sharply curved talons and excellent eyesight. The plumage is usually composed of browns, whites, chestnut, black and grey, often with barring of patterning. There is little difference in the plumage of m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steatornithidae
Steatornithidae is an family of birds comprising a single extant species, the oilbird (''Steatornis caripensis'') and the extinct genus '' Euronyctibius''. Steatornithidae is currently considered the only member of the order Steatornithiformes, however, in the past, it was classified in the order Caprimulgiformes, along with all other members of the clade Strisores. Prior to the Hackett et al. phylogeny most taxonomies circumscribed Caprimulgiformes as a paraphyletic comprising the nocturnal Nocturnality is a ethology, behavior in some non-human animals characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnality, diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatur ... strisoreans. References Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte Steatornithiformes Bird families {{Steatornithiformes-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Opisthocomidae
Opisthocomidae is a family of birds, the only named family within the order Opisthocomiformes. The only living representative is the hoatzin (''Opisthocomus hoazin'') which lives in the Amazon and the Orinoco delta in South America. Several fossil species have been identified, including one from Africa and one from Europe. Phylogeny The phylogeny below is based on the work of Hughes & Baker 1999 and Mayr & De Pietri 2014. Traditionally classified among the fowl-like birds (Galliformes), recent studies have favored Opisthocomidae's placement within the Neoaves. Taxonomy * Family Opisthocomidae Swainson 1837Mikko's Phylogeny Archiv ** Genus ?†'' Foro (bird), Foro'' Olson 1992 (mid-Eocene, USA) - cuculiform? *** Species †'' Foro panarium'' Olson 1992 ** Genus ?†'' Onychopteryx'' Cracraft 1971 (Early Eocene of Argentina) – falconid? A ''nomen dubium'' *** Species †'' Onychopteryx simpsoni'' Cracraft 1971 ** Genus †'' Protoazin'' Mayr & De Pietri 2014 (late Eocene of Fr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mesitornithidae
The mesites (Mesitornithidae) are a family (biology), family of birds that are part of a clade (Columbimorphae) that include Columbiformes and Pterocliformes. They are somewhat small-bodied, Flightless bird, flightless or near flightless birds endemic to Madagascar. All the species of this clade are listed as Vulnerable species, vulnerable. Description The mesites are forest and scrubland birds that Insectivore, feed on insects and Seed predation, seeds; brown and white-breasted mesites Foraging, forage on the ground, gleaning insects from underneath leaf litter, leaves as well as low vegetation. The subdesert mesite uses its long bill to probe in the soil. Other birds, such as drongos and Old World flycatcher, flycatchers, will follow mesites to catch any insects they flush out or miss. Mesites are vocal birds, with Bird vocalization, calls similar to that of a passerine's song, which are used for Territory (animal), territorial defence. Two or three white eggs are laid in a st ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eurypygidae
The sunbittern (''Eurypyga helias'') is a bittern-like bird of tropical regions of the Americas, and the sole member of the family Eurypygidae (sometimes spelled Eurypigidae) and genus ''Eurypyga''. It is found in Central and South America, and has three subspecies. The sunbittern shows both morphological and molecular similarities with the kagu (''Rhynochetos jubatus'') of New Caledonia, indicating a Gondwanan origin, both species being placed in the clade Eurypygiformes.del Hoyo, J. Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1996) ''Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks''. Lynx Edicions. Taxonomy The sunbittern was traditionally placed in the Gruiformes, but this was always considered preliminary. Altogether, the bird is most similar to another bird that was provisionally placed in the Gruiformes, the kagu (''Rhynochetos jubatus''). Molecular studies seem to confirm that the kagu and sunbittern are each other's closest living relatives and have a similar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kagu
The kagu or cagou (''Rhynochetos jubatus'') is a crested, long-legged, and bluish-grey bird endemism, endemic to the dense mountain forests of New Caledonia. It is the only surviving member of the genus ''Rhynochetos'' and the family Rhynochetidae, although a second species has been described from the fossil record. Measuring in length, it has pale grey plumage and bright red legs. Its 'nasal corns' are a unique feature not shared with any other bird. Almost flightless, it spends its time on or near the ground, where it hunts its invertebrate prey and builds a nest of sticks on the forest floor. Both parents share incubation of a single egg (biology), egg, as well as rearing the chick. It has proven vulnerable to introduced predators and is threatened with extinction. Etymology The name kagu is derived from the Melanesian languages, Melanesian names for the species. The species is variously known as the ''kavu'' or ''kagou'' in the New Caledonian languages, Kanak language ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Psophiidae
''Psophia'' is a genus of birds restricted to the humid forests of the Amazon and Guiana Shield in South America. It is the only genus in the family Psophiidae. Birds in the genus are commonly known as trumpeters, due to the trumpeting or cackling threat call of the males. The three species resemble slightly taller, longer-legged chickens in size and appearance; they measure long and weigh . They are rotund birds with long, flexible necks and legs, downward-curving bills and a “hunched” appearance. Their heads are small, but their eyes are relatively large, making them look inquisitive and "good-natured". The plumage is soft, resembling fur or velvet on the head and neck. It is mostly black, with purple, green, or bronze iridescence, particularly on the wing coverts and the lower neck. In the best-known taxa, the secondary and tertial flight feathers are white, grey, or greenish-black and hairlike, falling over the lower back, which is the same colour. These colours give the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aramidae
Aramidae is a bird family in the order Gruiformes. The limpkin (''Aramus guarauna'') is the only living member of this family, although other species are known from the fossil record, such as '' Papulavis annae'' from the Eocene of France, '' Aramus paludigrus'' from the Middle Miocene of Colombia and '' Badistornis aramus'' from the Oligocene of South Dakota, USA. Another Oligocene fossil from Europe, '' Parvigrus pohli'', has been described as a mosaic of the features shared by the limpkins and the cranes. It shares many morphological features with the cranes and limpkins, but also was much smaller than either group, and was more rail-like in its proportions. In the paper describing the fossil, Gerald Mayr suggested that it was similar to the stem species of the Grues (the cranes and limpkins), and that the limpkins evolved massively long bills as a result of the specialisation to feeding on snails. In contrast, the cranes evolved into long-legged forms to walk and probe on open ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
