Though they share a similar diet that distinguishes them from all other birds, New World vultures and Old World vultures are different in many ways. Old World vultures are classified along with eagles and other hawks (Falconiformes). New World vultures actually are more closely related to storks and ibises (Ciconiiformes). How did the two types of bird grow to become so similar? This process is called convergent evolution. At one point in evolutionary history, many different kinds of food were scarce, where carrion was plentiful. In order to ensure their survival, these two types of creature adapted their diets over time until they consisted almost exclusively of carrion. For years, the two types of vulture were classified together as Falconiformes, but recently, they have been divided into separate classes. |
New-World Vultures |
New World Vultures, being evolved from the stork and ibis family, have very weak feet. They are among the only birds in the world who posess a sense of smell. |
Nasty Habits.... or Cool Adaptations? Unique Characteristics of New World Vultures Vomiting: What an effective form of defence! After a hearty meal of you-know-what, can you imagine a faceful of a vulture's regurgitated meal? Perhaps this is why New World vultures have few natural predators. Urinating: When we are warm, we love to turn on the sprinkler and cool down a bit. Not only do many New World vultures live in landscapes with very little water, but they also don't have the fortunate ability to sweat, like humans. So these vultures have developed an equally effective method of losing heat through evaporation. These birds have the ability to urinate directly down their legs, wetting them with a clear substance that serves two purposes--evaporative cooling, and sterilization. The chemicals in the vulture's stomach are so powerful that the animal's urine will kill whatever bacteria has clung to its legs, after walking through a carcass. |
