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Stone Zoo Animals > King Vulture > Flashcards

King Vulture Flashcards

1
Q

What is the range and habitat of the king vulture?

A

Lowland tropical forests in Central and South America

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2
Q

Is the king vulture the only surviving member of its genus?

A

Yes.

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3
Q

Are there fossil records of ancestors to the king vulture?

A

Yes.

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4
Q

What critically endangered Asian species was once called the king vulture?

A

The red-headed vulture.

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5
Q

What is the purpose of a wattle?

A

Large or colorful wattles indicate high levels of testosterone, so they are used to court mates.

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6
Q

What is a caruncle?

A

Any fleshy piece that hangs off an animal’s face like a dewlap or wattle.

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7
Q

True or false? The king vulture’s beak is weak, so it waits for other vultures to make the incisions in a carcass before eating.

A

False. The hooked beak of the king vulture often makes the initial incisions into a carcass.

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8
Q

True or false? Smaller new world vultures will often flee if they see a king vulture coming and wait until the king vulture is done eating to begin eating themselves.

A

True.

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9
Q

What is the maximum age of a king vulture?

A

30 years.

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10
Q

New world vultures and old world vultures are not closely related. What has caused them to develop similar traits?

A

Convergent evolution.

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11
Q

What is one characteristic that new world vultures have that old world vultures don’t?

A

New world vultures have a very good sense of smell, whereas old world vultures do not. Old world vultures rely on sight to find prey.

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12
Q

What family do the old world vultures belong to?

A

Accipitridae (Eagles, hawks, harriers, etc.)

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13
Q

What is a cosmopolitan distribution?

A

It is when a species or group is found in most of the world.

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14
Q

What is the conservation status of the king vulture?

A

Least concern.

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15
Q

True or false? Though the king vulture is listed as least concern, they are being closely monitored because of population drops.

A

True.

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16
Q

What is the main threat to the king vulture?

A

Habitat loss.

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17
Q

What year was the king vulture discovered?

A

1758

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18
Q

What is the closest living relative of the king vulture?

A

The Andean condor.

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19
Q

What did the Mayans believe the king vulture did?

A

It was a king that served as a messenger between humans and the gods.

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20
Q

What did the Aztecs call the king vulture?

A

Collared bird of prey.

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21
Q

What do some modern scientists suggest new world vultures may be related to?

A

Storks.

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22
Q

How long ago did the Kern vulture (the closest relative of the king vulture) live in North America?

A

3 million years ago

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23
Q

What is the name of the explorer who traveled to Florida and described a “painted vulture”?

A

William Bartram

24
Q

What was significant about William Bartram’s “painted vulture”?

A

It matched the description of a king vulture almost perfectly, but they have never been known to be in Florida.

25
Q

What has caused some doubts as to the validity of the account of the “painted vulture”?

A

The vulture was described doing activities that vultures are not suited for, such as running. Reviewing his notes also shows that he changed them several times.

26
Q

What is the main bird people theorize could be the “painted vulture”?

A

The crested caracara. They believe he may have observed the caracara, then heard of the king vulture and simply remembered the caracara wrong.

27
Q

What is a current explanation for the existence of the “painted vulture”?

A

Some believe it was a subspecies of the king vulture that died out during a cold snap.

28
Q

What is the main difference between the description of the “painted vulture” and the king vulture?

A

The painted vulture was described as having a white tail, the king vulture has a black tail.

29
Q

What is the length of the king vulture?

A

3ft

30
Q

What is the wingspan of the king vulture?

A

6.5 feet.

31
Q

What s the weight of the king vulture?

A

10lbs

32
Q

How old are king vultures when they get their caruncle?

A

4 years old

33
Q

What new world vulture has the strongest bill?

A

The king vulture.

34
Q

How old are king vultures when they reach adult plumage (and maturity)?

A

Five.

35
Q

Can king vultures survive in high mountain areas?

A

Yes.

36
Q

True or false, king vultures have been observed soaring for hours without flapping.

A

True.

37
Q

The king vulture has been observed engaging in tandem flight. What is one explanation of why they do this?

A

Courtship behavior.

38
Q

Are king vultures solitary?

A

Usually, but small groups can form to eat or bathe.

39
Q

Do king vultures force other birds away from a carcass?

A

No, they are relatively unaggressive to other birds. The birds back away voluntarily.

40
Q

Why might other birds back away from the king vulture at a kill?

A

Not only is it often the largest bird at the kill, it also has the strongest bill and can open it for other birds.

41
Q

What sounds does the king vulture make?

A

Croaking, wheezing, and bill snapping.

42
Q

What are the only two predators of a king vulture?

A

Snakes and jaguars.

43
Q

What do king vultures eat?

A

Carrion, but there are also rare reports of it killing dying or very small animals.

44
Q

What are the two theories as to how the king vulture finds food?

A

They smell food, or they follow smaller vultures to food.

45
Q

How does a king vulture easily pick the meat off the bones of a dead animal?

A

Their tongue is very rough like a nail file.

46
Q

True or false? The king vulture has occasionally been observed eating fallen fruit.

A

True.

47
Q

Where do king vultures make their nest?

A

In a tree hollow.

48
Q

How many eggs do king vultures lay?

A

One.

49
Q

How do king vultures keep predators away from their nest?

A

They make it smell foul.

50
Q

What does altrical mean?

A

It means the young are incapable of moving on their own.

51
Q

How many months does it take for young king vultures to be able to fly?

A

Three months.

52
Q

True or false? Male king vultures do not participate in incubation.

A

False.

53
Q

How long is incubation for a king vulture?

A

50 days

54
Q

Why are the populations of king vultures difficult to monitor?

A

They sit in high trees and are surprisingly inconspicuous.

55
Q

What everyday object do king vultures appear on in many Central American countries?

A

Stamps.

56
Q

What day of the month in the Mayan calendar does the king vulture represent?

A

The thirteenth.

57
Q

What parts of the king vulture did the Mayans believe could cure diseases?

A

The blood and feathers.

Stone Zoo Animals (32 decks)

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